Gear Doesn't Matter // My journey chasing tone for 25 years

In this video, Brian talks about how he has chased 'tone' for25+ years, starting from when he was a teenager playing guitar and leading worship in youth worship bands.
In this video he walks through all the different rigs he's used for electric guitar. But the larger story is really this: Gear doesn't matter - what matters the most is the stories you write - the people you meet and the places that you plug into when you play.
We'll have a full demo and walk through of Brian's updated pedalboard up very soon.
Table of contents:
00:00 - Intro
00:22 - Gear is a conduit to relationships and experiences
02:05 - Lets take a studio gear tour (WT Studio V6)
02:38 - The OG - POD Bean (and Guitar Port)
03:41 - Pedals - where did all these pedals come from
05:16 - Modelers enter the scene - HD500x
06:37 - The Line 6 Helix
07:56 - I was asked to become a lead guitar player within a few weeks
09:12 - The GOAT - Fractal
10:07 - And back to pedals (again)
11:38 - The GigRig G3s has kind of changed my pedalboard life
13:19 - More details on the pedalboard
16:06 - So what is the point of all this?
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Download Pads and instantly elevate your worship sets: www.worshiptutorials.com/pads/
View our Helix Patches: worshiptutorials.com/helix/
Join our Facebook group for worship leaders and worship team members: groups/297108460822183/
Join our Facebook P&W Gear group: groups/2113165795376666/
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Our vision is that every church in the world would experience worship that is both excellent and authentic. We are here to help you make that happen.
CURRENT GEAR - stuff we use in (and to make) videos
Cameras:
Sony FX3: amzn.to/3TEa80p
Sony a74: amzn.to/3fWONBd
Acoustic Guitars:
McPherson Acoustics (Camrielle, Carbon Fiber Sable): mcphersonguitars.com
Martin D-35 // www.zzounds.com/a--3980936/item--MRT2018D35
Martin 000-28 // www.zzounds.com/a--3980936/item--MRT201800028
Taylor 414ce // www.zzounds.com/a--3980936/item--TAY414CERV
LR Baggs Anthem Pickup (in both) // www.zzounds.com/a--3980936/item--LRBANTHEM
Capos:
G7th Performance Capos:
Amp modelers we make presets for:
Line 6 Helix // www.zzounds.com/a--3980936/item--LINHELIXFB
Line 6 HX Stomp // www.zzounds.com/a--3980936/item--LINHXSTOMP
Kemper // www.zzounds.com/a--3980936/item--KEMPROFILERSTAGE
Fractal Axe-FX III, FM3, FM9 // www.fractalaudio.com
Quad Cortex: www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/QuadCortex--neural-dsp-quad-cortex-quad-core-digital-effects-modeler-profiler-floorboard
Recording Interface:
Universal Audio Apollo // www.zzounds.com/a--3980936/item--UADAPX8P
In-Ear Monitors:
Ultimate Ears: myinears.com
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Web: www.worshiptutorials.com
Facebook: worshiptutorials/
Instagram: worshiptutorials
Twitter: wrshptutorials

[@worshiptutorials]

Huge thanks to Nick Rice for producing this video. I think this was the last piece of content that we filmed together 🥹 What are some of the stories and relationships you've built through gear? Let us know in the comments 👇🏻 Also - this title is click bait. We love gear. But some things just matter way more.

[@brianmiller3287]

What happened to Nick? Why are you not working together?

[@worshiptutorials]

Nick took a different job in Washington: Big changes are happening at Worship Tutorials kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaSae5mbrMelaa8

[@felixortiz9330]

I love this types of videos…like my pastor use to say…”people love the Glory, but they don’t know the story”….well this is inspiring.

[@worshiptutorials]

Thanks! And that’s a pretty great quote

[@jakedeiwert]

at the end of the day...we're all just gonna get turned down by the sound guy, be "blended into the mix," and be heard by only ourselves and the worship lead.

[@joshuasisk4773]

Brother don't give up on being heard! I really feel your pain. I've played in church for 16 years, and about 10 years of it nobody heard a note I played. After years of resenting all sound people, I stumbled upon a video by @Csguitars on "how not to dial in a metal tone" and even though I don't play metal, I applied the guy's principles. The very first Sunday morning after reworking my amp, all these people came up to me after service and raved because they'd heard me for the first time. It's all about finding your sonic space. If your bands mix is dark and heavy on the delay and reverb, switch to your bridge pickup, dial back the reverb and delay a little and you will instantly seem louder. I say "seem" because knowing how to find a sonic space will distinguish you from the other instruments or even the vocals. Louder does not mean easier to hear. Easier to hear means clearer and more distinct from the other instruments. Don't be discouraged man! At my home church the mix is bass-heavy and dark, and I've struggled to get through the mix with my mahogany body guitar, but the other day I swapped to my strat with bright pickups and alder tonewood and instantly I was so much easier to hear at the same volume. In my last church band my strat disappeared in the mix and my mahogany guitar jumped out. The key is to listen to your band, find an open sonic space, and go there. Don't try to crowd into the bass or the kick's space by cranking the lows up on your amp, don't fight with vocals that are filling in the upper mids by overdoing the reverb. Find the spot where there's room. A bunch of instruments playing the same thing in and especially the same octave just end up in a muddy mess and then everybody is mad and everybody is deaf and still nobody can hear anything even though you're breaking 130Db. If another guitar is playing open chords, play barre chords; if they're using the neck pickup, switch to the bridge; if the piano is playing big chords, play lead lines or swells; just find a way to get away from the other musicians so you can be distinct. The worst of it is when we try to emulate these modern worship bands that can get away with huge reverb and heavy delays because they have pro sound guys, elite sound systems, and huge venues. Church musicians, in smaller buildings, with volunteer sound engineers and atrocious acoustics are not going to experience anything but frustration if they fail to adapt their tone and playing style to their own band, their own building, and their own congregation. Don't give up! It's just a matter of tuning into what your band/congregation really needs from you, and then adapting. At any rate Jesus can hear you, Bro. 😂

[@blainetrahan8883]

That’s a fact Jack!!!!

[@paultusa3185]

Depends on who’s on sound desk he should generally be a musician and love music and we should be able to hear everything onstage especially a pin dropping to the ground otherwise is like following a blind person with your eyes closed.. one other thing is you will only be turned up louder if your playing awesome things so learning your craft is very important.. Don’t give up no one can defeat a happy musician and if they ain’t turn you up just enjoy your own awesome sound in your inears😅😂🎉 just means the congregation ain’t being blessed 😂😂

[@griffash5682]

I work as a church sound guy, and I can say that I make sure the lead EG is heard, however I do ‘change’ their tone to fix the mix. So at the end of the day their tone gets tweaked and sometimes changed dramatically to sit well with all the other instruments. Players should still strive to have great sounds that fit the song, with whatever gear they have whether it’s a POD or a AxeFX III.

[@benjamincunningham2174]

This was such a great video!!! As many of us guitar players can relate when it comes to tone, the importance of keeping the main things the main things is so important. Remembering the whys of what we do, and to enjoy it. Love it! Thanks for taking us through some of your experiences, Brian. Don’t stop doing what you do!

[@trentonortgies1754]

Been watching for a very long time, and it’s been such a pleasure Brian. Thank you for sharing all the content, wisdom, and products. ☺️

[@angusjwest]

So good Brian. Extremely heart felt, one of the best videos you've done.

[@jeramyperez7685]

Love yours vids! They really influence the way I play and choose pedals!

[@SpencerCribbs1998]

An awesome video as always!!! Got me all sentimental!🥲😂

[@houseofjesseworship]

Love these types of videos. Thanks WT!

[@kdb_2024]

Best video yet, Brian. Thank you for sharing and highlighting what truly matters.

[@tylerlogan722]

Brilliant video. Thanks for sharing from the heart…

[@emiliojvr]

Love the video and your ministry. Keep it up guys ❤️

[@nathanpickett202]

Bravo! Excellent closing comments. Perfect advice

[@StanleyCullerEsq.]

Dude, the Dan/Darlene thing is absolutely blowing my mind.

[@bernie_smith]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaete3iXgb2HoMksi=AQ10b-ffO7HaQqNu

[@bernie_smith]

Stanley, there is a great 'That Pedal Show' featuring Dan and Darlene if you want to check it out. I tried to share the link but I think the link might have been removed. Maybe WT thought it was perhaps a rogue link, apologies Brian.

[@StanleyCullerEsq.]

@@bernie_smith Thanks!

[@wilmer33086]

Awesome video Brian!!! I’ve been a follower of the channel way back when you used to do cover or tutorials of songs on the Acoustic guitar!!! Praise God for continuing the dedication on being a worship leader. God bless you!!!

[@wilfriedcwik3475]

This was a great one especially the part about the feeling connected to the gear. Sounds strange but I absolutely know what you are talking about.

[@Rhapsody30]

🔥 video! Y’all are awesome!

[@andrewmarsh3094]

So many intangible things can affect tone as well. Headspace being top of mind. Coming from a blues/classic rock background finding a worship tone I like has been a journey. Running with no amps has been a huge transitional challenge. But all in all it has improved my playing and ear. Thank you for these videos!

[@brettbianchi6706]

Always a good day when you get that WT KZbin notification

[@SundaySetlist]

Love this video! It’s about so much more than tone. I toured in a metal band for years but once I started playing worship at my church, and bought a Helix, I began a journey that led me to becoming a better guitar player and have made lifelong friendships. I just wish I had as many tone options as you to play around with lol.

[@StringsOfCrossroads]

Perfect timing on this. I wanted to bless a new electric guitar player with a practice rig. Didn’t have a lot of money to spend so decided to buy a hd500. Downloaded your patches but the usb port wasn’t working so ended up making a patch from scratch and realised wow I can get some decent tones out of this thing. I’ll try email line 6 on a new usb port! Thanks for all the inspiration and tools we need to do this worship thing right!

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

As much fun as a full on pedalboard would be I just can't get away from the digital solutions.

[@rockstardr]

I related so much to this. I'm 41 and I started around age 13 with my dad's guitar and an old peavey amp. Then my ibanez stagestar and a tiny solid state Marshall. I grew through amps and pedals, digital stuff and back to analog. Now, I own more gear than I ever have and play less than I ever have. I'd probably give most of it up to go back and play again with my first Christian rock band to a crowd of 15 people or with my youth p&w band. It's not how high tech or expensive the gear is... it's how much chemistry you have with the friends you play with. My best memories are how close I felt to God playing worship music and how I felt like I served a purpose. All the people that ever told me they enjoyed my playing, didn't care what I was playing. They cared that it inspired worship and inspired them.

[@rockstardr]

Still have gas though....

[@Kels364]

Very inspiring video. Reckon we all as guitarists can relate to this some how. Amazing also to mention how the tone chasing journey can shape your own unique sound, is an amazing journey. Building a rig out of chasing that tone you hear in your mind and heart, is incredible. Awesome. Nowadays I get invited more to church gigs and youth events, special youth events and overall gigs, I do believe it's got to do with what a person can bring to the event to somehow shape it and just be a blessing. As a worship guitarist, loving that atmosphere of praising God and worshiping, Id do it every time and giving my best to God, all the time.

[@RezMusicMan]

This is earliest I've ever watched a video so close to it's release 😅 Great video Brian🎉

[@worshiptutorials]

Thanks!

[@HeyWorshipLeader]

Cinematic! Love it!!

[@elbertsmit480]

Thanks guys for this video. Makes you look back on your own (tone) journey and the people you've played with. The journey was a little shorter though, but no less fascinating 😉

[@gentlewolf1279]

I have owned over 150 guitars and more than 50 amps. As a session guy, I was just considered it my oversized spice rack of tones. But, the longer I play, the less gear I use and feel is necessary. I have a few killer staples and have been unloading the rest. I still love all of the gear videos, but I love the simple stage I am at with gear... especially with church. Cheers

[@dmytrosun1]

Brother, how I love you, what a kind person you are, your covers healed my soul when there is a war in my country and my house was robbed and my neighbors hated me. I know a little English and God showed me your channel. I’ve probably listened to all your covers thousands of times and will continue to listen. I'm 36y, also play the guitar and have a processor and amps. Thank You Jesus Christ for this ministry!❤😊

[@jasontieu3737]

Man so much knowledge here.

[@joshuahuff3376]

I’m mainly a FOH guy but have just started playing guitar with our worship team. I was told “oh yeah you will play rhythm behind the MD!” I get there for the first service and they say “oh your playing lead and he’s on bass” I was shook but everything came out great. Helix has been a great tool so far! Really enjoy your content!

[@MaksHedlund]

I came across this video because of my old trust friend, the HD500x. Never really did have to upgrade but people paid us good money so why not take it to the next level. Always got room for improvement. Sometimes I look at my HD500x leaning on the shelf and I feel both sad and happy. Happy because it gave me a good run for my money but sad because I don't use it anymore even if it still works perfectly. Like a kid who no longer pays attention to his old toys 😂😂😂 I can't bring myself to sell my old gear because it's like I'm selling a family member. So I guess I'm going tonstart donating them. I tried so hard to lure my nephews into learning the guitar so I could just give them all my old stuff and maybe they'll have an easier time progressing but I guess I'm not cool enough to them LOL

[@keithmankz]

Thank you for sharing. I have not been playing that long and I have zero pedals and my plan is to get small guitar modeller to learn the trade.... let me go and save......😊

[@ejw3006]

Man that Pod Go, I still got my Pod X3 I got from my uncle. It was my first ever fx unit/amp sim, still got it sitting in my room somewhere. Also quick question, have ya’ll ever the Dark Sun pedal from Seymour Duncan? I think it’s right up y’all’s alley.

[@mjtejero]

great video!!!! and btw if you're not using that pod hd500x, i can take care of it for you lol

[@randyhickman604]

I’m kind of going more back to basics, fender delux reverb and my Guild hollow body X170, great guitar tone. Still using my Helix on Sunday mornings

[@Clark1821]

Oddly enough, I think for me, gear has a secondary purpose. Perhaps, even more important than secondary. Call it primary purpose B. Judging by your video it seems you feel the same. Gear is an important piece in finding our tone as guitar players, but it has been a conversation starter that has allowed me to get to know many of the most important people in my life. You've not just built a website and youtube channel, you've built a community where meaningful relationships have a chance to materialize and grow. Thank You!

[@idol2984]

With the cost of things and your approach and cost, base your rig around a Helix and a really comfortable guitar. Load in/load out should be done in one trip. You can even get away with a FlyRig to keep things super simple

[@dann7010]

You gotta show us the album Brian!!

[@elipapapsanchez9856]

Cool thing is you can get very close results with a huuge variety of options. I’ve noticed that throughout the years with all the gear that I’ve amassed, i still kinda sound the same. I was part of the pre/post service green room gear huddle for a few years but it got old. Im now more interested in relationships that don’t necessarily spring from gear talks or any other materialistic interests… I remember back in the mid-2000s relocating to a major city auditioning for the worship team at one of the largest mega churches in the state, showing up with my Mitchell acoustic guitar (rough financial patch back then)… nobody really seemed to care about the new guy. To be regarded based on the gear that you show up with on Sunday morning is pretty shallow and off putting...

[@GC-bk1mv]

I’ve come to find that the gear you chose to play, often speaks about you as a player, your influences, etc.

[@worshiptutorials]

Yeah I think that’s true for sure

[@drew.cochran]

DAN STEINHEART AND DARLENE ZSCHECH ARE RELATED??? That tidbit is worth the price of admission.

[@worshiptutorials]

Ha check this video out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaete3iXgb2HoMksi=QAoBCC5nWxjT3pIG

[@MrJingles021]

I want to get a Helix, but I really wonder if we will get updated hardware. The HX One came out using USB-C, but the Helix and Catalyst use like a printer one, don't they? Didn't Europe make a law that all new hardware must be USB-C? And that's why apple switched from their lightning cables......am I delusional hoping for a Helix 2?

[@rbjamn4jc]

Was my Fractal one of the first you were able to see and hear live? It was six years ago this weekend that I met you and Bradford and spent a day hanging. I had my Fractal and Elliott with me. Within weeks (maybe months), you had a Fractal and Bradford had a Tonemaster. Haha.

[@worshiptutorials]

I believe that is correct on both counts! Quite the influencer you are, Rick!

[@20weststudio]

Well said at the end. Two of my closest friends I have now came out of worship teams I played on and bonding over the gear we used. I live in a different state now, but we still text and talk gear along with great memories. Thanks!

[@MeatPole]

What happened to Fuller? Is he still around?

[@Spidouz]

I’m surprised you haven’t done videos about the new PRS SE NF3 since noiseless pickups might be appreciated in a church setting I guess…

[@jimqartworks]

Amen

[@just.because.why.not.]

How do you like the duellist?

[@jakeodell880]

The lead guitarist at my church still uses his HD500X

[@jiglywilglymeme6703]

legend getting old.

[@worshiptutorials]

Wait who’s getting old? 😅

[@jiglywilglymeme6703]

​@@worshiptutorialsthis channel.

[@worshiptutorials]

The guy on it is, too

[@dangerkadung]

The answer is in the title, “chasing tones for 25 years” a great artist once said “don’t think, feel! 'It's like a finger pointing away to the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory.'

[@andrewbonica]

“A Catalyst.” No pun intended. 👊😜

[@Wells306]

Is it reasonable to use an 8-string guitar into dual Boss MT-2 pedals pushing a Triple Rectifier full stack with no attenuator? Asking for a friend.

[@worshiptutorials]

Tell your friend that it depends on what their definition of ‘reasonable’ is…

[@ejw3006]

Don’t be scared, you need the 180W Herbert from Diezel.

[@Wells306]

@@ejw3006 I knew it! I mean…I’ll tell my friend.

[@brianyvar8312]

Drop the Album 😂❤

[@fried_dirt4327]

Pedal boards are like life, always changing 🤣

[@jpement]

Plural for Helix should be Helii

[@emanuelcecilio]

T-Rex Mudhoney. Love Forever.

[@shawnj55]

Ha ha. Brian Fuller should have "don't screw this up for us" on his tombstone.

[@worshiptutorials]

Haha for real! Hope you guys are doing well.

[@paultrejo5684]

Can I buy your old creation board?

[@worshiptutorials]

I was planning to use it to build a new demo board with it

[@paultrejo5684]

@@worshiptutorials Ah ok. Classy. Thanks for hitting me back. 🤘

[@yaniv-nos-tubes]

what journey? if you don't use amps what are you chasing anyway? preset packages all in one that someone else made for you? where is the chase pressing on a preset? gear matters a lot but you were on the wrong track and anyone can keep up with you or pass you by buying the latest modelling computer.

[@worshiptutorials]

Did you watch the video? And if so, is that what you got out of it? At Worship Tutorials our main source of revenue is presets that we build for all these modeling platforms, as well as amp captures. I use amps all the time…

[@ryanspencerlauderdale687]

Sure, gear doesn’t matter, but it can help.

[@davidwilson5597]

Was expecting mention of God and why we worship. Agree that the memories and relationships we make are important, but the music, friendships, and gear shouldn’t be the primary focus. It’s all about Him.

[@worshiptutorials]

Of course - we agree with this for sure. We've made lots of content about that as well.

[@bueller8278]

confused by the title?

[@seanzinger]

Gear doesn’t matter… but I had to get a ton of it to realize it? And here it is! 💪

[@worshiptutorials]

Did you watch the video?

[@bueller8278]

@@worshiptutorials not the last 5 mins maybe I missed the point.

[@worshiptutorials]

@bueller8278 gear comes and goes. But the relationships you build around using it are way more important But the last 3-5 minutes is literally labeled ‘what is the point of this video’ 😅

[@bueller8278]

@@worshiptutorials agreed!

[@agzagadoo8598]

not sure at this point why we do this, like spending too much time, money and effort just to find the tone, Yes, Brad was right grear doesnt really matter... i guess many or majority of the worship musicians on the stage rather than pleasing God but end up self pleasing... that's the sad really we been secullarised and we brought in in the church... i guess we become idolaters if are not being careful. Guard our hearts my fellow musicians... while we must give our best to God, our devotion is not to music, to self, not to people but to God.... Yes gear doesnt matter, but heart... thanks

[@jordanwilkinson7368]

No offense, but obviously gear matters.. to you. You love it, and that's ok.

[@worshiptutorials]

Of course it does 😅. The title is click bait. But the moral of the story is that some things matter a lot more.

[@jordanwilkinson7368]

@@worshiptutorials fair enough

[@cromers7]

But you have to have gear to get tone.

[@MaksHedlund]

Imagine the surgeon operating on you says: "the equipments don't matter"

[@worshiptutorials]

Well comparing guitar players to medical doctors is a bit silly. And also, surgeons don’t go out and buy new surgical equipment based on whatever the latest surgeon influencers post on KZbin or Instagram 😅 Or maybe they do, but instead of social media, it’s pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies 🤷🏻‍♂️ Now I’m wondering if this analogy makes more sense than I’d like it to…

[@MaksHedlund]

@@worshiptutorials Well that's not what you really said in the video innit. My point is that gear matters in a sense that you want the highest possible quality tool when providing service to others, especially if their lives depend on it.

[@VictorVectorMusic]

You are the tone, not the guitar. A good player can make a Squire sound great and a bad player a 58 burst sound horrible.

[@FollowMeNot]

lol. funny title. just like a rich man saying, "money isn't everything"

[@jakehelix]

I'm not going to lie...this was difficult to watch. I became a subscriber back when WT was actually about worship tutorials...you singing songs on your acoustic. The title of your video "gear doesn't matter" is very misleading...because that's all that seems to matter on this channel anymore. I kept waiting for the punchline that never occurred. All this mention of connecting with people over gear and tone...not one mention of God - the whole reason we worship musicians do what we do, the whole reason you have this empire, the whole reason you're able to have 3 or 4 Helixes when some of us are still using the PODHD500 (the OG, not the X). I'm just disappointed in the misplaced love....no love for God, but much love for these material things. I'm a tone guy too, but I don't worship it...I seek good tone because God deserves the sweetest sound. Sorry, but I'm no longer interested in how to worship gear and tone.

[@worshiptutorials]

I understand where you’re coming from. The channel has changed over the years, and the kind of content you liked in the beginning isn’t on the channel as much - I get that it could make you upset. But to accuse me and say that I have ‘no love for God, but much love for material things’, and that this channel is about ‘how to worship gear and tone’ is both cruel and untrue. My KZbin channel is not my relationship with God, nor does it act as my profession of faith in Christ. Do you really assume to judge my heart like that? Also, you are incorrect in your assessment of the content we make. Of the past 20 published videos, roughly half of them are covers of worship songs. Sure, maybe it’s not all me on acoustic guitar singing them (although I still do that), but we try hard to keep it evenly split between worship and other content.

[@jakehelix]

@@worshiptutorials I truly hope this defensive posture means you feel a sense of conviction. You cannot deny the lack of God in this video. While this channel may not be your platform for professing your faith, I feel that is a wasted opportunity. It is worship, after all. Besides, the presence of worship videos does not make it Christ-centered. I see them as springboards for all your great gear and tone patches. They are playthroughs, not actual tutorials. I get it...the patches and everything...it pays the bills. Most Christians make a living with a secular job (myself included). But none of that equips worship guitarists with what they need to effectively worship from the platform. I used to look forward to your Worship Leader Wednesdays...I found them so enriching and encouraging. But I find no enrichment from this video. God has blessed you with a ridiculous amount of reach, the kind of reach most pastors pray for. While I recognize this isn't a channel for apologetics or evangelism, I feel like you're just slightly missing the mark.

[@worshiptutorials]

@jakehelix we post multiple videos every week. Many of them contain the content you’re talking about here. You seem to be judging the whole of my life’s work on this channel based on the fact that this particular video doesn’t have the content you want it to have?

[@rbjamn4jc]

UNSUBCRIBE!!!! Looking forward to watching... (post review... great journey, much wisdom).

[@rockychieng88]

Instead of talking about gear all the time, why don't you talk a bit about music theory?

[@worshiptutorials]

We’ve done a handful of videos in that general topic arena and no one watched. People watch this stuff 😂

[@reubenortiz5923]

Is that the reason Tone Guru Virtuosos like Santana , Eric Clapton , Eric Johnson , Joe Bonamasa , SRV , EVH Eric Gales , Brent Mason , Steve Vai,oh I can go on and on Gear does matter it makes it easier to achieve the Tone with high quality Equipment . Note : oh I do own Software that comes close to emulating amps like Marshall/MESA Boogie/Orange/Freidman/Soldano/Fender/Carvin/Bonner EtcEtcEtc but it cannot beat the Physical Umph of a tube rectifier or a power/pre-amp tube it just doesn't do it now if your talking second best then you have a point . 56 years of playing music teaches you not to settle for second best . I have been to too many concerts and the guitars and bass sound like crap when they completely solid state or digital .