YouTube Reviewers Can't Be Trusted? Let's Talk...

[@ryancorcoran6011]

you don't need to explain yourself. Just keep making great content and your videos will speak for themselves. Thanks for all the great content!

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Much appreciated, cheers!

[@PeterMoore350]

I totally agree. You’re always honest and open and we love your content. Cheers 😎🎸🤘

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Thanks to Henning for the wonderful intermission! Thoughts guys? Let's keep it polite please

[@TVoltG]

I have the upmost faith and trust in you. I have bought a couple pedals and a Mesa Single Rectifier based on your videos. Henning's video was very good. And the follow up as to their threatening letter they sent to another reviewer. It's nice to see people with respect to their audience. Thanks for what you do Jon. It's always fun. Always informative.

[@AngryTonesRiffClips]

Well said my friend! Excellent video and I love everything you’ve released on your channel! 🤘🤘🤘

[@SonicDriveStudio]

@AngryTonesRiffClips thanks buddy! You rock!

[@kevindavid37]

I think the online guitar community used to be like this little circle where everyone just loved each other and pretty much knew about each other. That community has grown a lot over the years and probably has a size now where it doesn‘t feel like family anymore and maybe that‘s the point where people start "hating" on each other. Like hating on that new stereotypical YT gear guy, that gets all the stuff for free that everyone wants and he doesn‘t deserve it. Makes sense to me, what do you think?

[@JeffBee1]

Love watching both of you guys, and would love to see a video actually together some day.

[@javiermp81]

I enjoy your channel a lot, admire that you make a living with it and respect that you get money and “free” gear for reviews. That being said, once you receive money or an intangible value for a review, your opinion is, though still your own and personal, by definition no longer unbiased. At that point, you become part of an advertising campaign. Which is fine, it doesn’t make you a sellout, but it needs to be put into context. Second, since most KZbin reviewers only review gear from brands they really like and enjoy, there is an overabundance of positivity and hype around gear that in reality isn’t much more special that other things out there. Let’s just accept that social media is the biggest marketing platform ever. Reviewers should be open and transparent about it and viewers are hopefully intelligent enough to understand it and to think for themselves.

[@Xperize666]

Greetings from Germany, i am avision 45 years old and i always a watch you videos and for me personally you're want of the very nice youtubert on earth. I love to show. You're your gears and for me personally you help me to buy the tonex and for me it opens of world. I can no recording witch own Impuls responsces like you do and for me personally. I love you videos and you make a great job.

[@GregMerritt-ws8tq]

Even in the most generalized context: KZbin reviewers can be trusted more than manufacturer publicity departments, regardless of the minutae.

[@JD-vj4go]

Pathological liars in dark alleys can be trusted more than any marketing department or corporate officer.

[@matt926uk1]

I think some KZbinrs can be trusted more than others, always take things said with a pinch of salt. You can’t blame these guys for trying to make a living though.

[@jedmarsillo]

Dude, your riffs are sick, and you are one of the most thorough gear reviewers. Keep doing what you're doing. I love the channel.🤘

[@PeterMoore350]

Agreed 😎🎸🤘

[@hughwphamill]

Speaking of free stuff, thank you Jon for all the fantastic free entertainment, information and education!

[@EDWINPIERCE168]

The focus tends to be on possibility of impropriety resulting from financial interest. I would agree that it’s illogical to assume that the possibility (which is disclosed) is a certainty. However, I would add that popular reviewers tend to be absolute wizards at the Rubik’s cube that is amp settings . Some amps sound good no matter what, and some are a puzzle to be solved with maybe one “solution”. There is an art to getting a good sound, and putting a video on with really ridiculous eq settings is not something I’ve ever seen, so there’s some subjectivity there, especially on amps that mostly suck. I think Jon is spectacular at finding great tones, and he’s very honest and open about the killer IRs and Killer reactive loads he uses, and that’s such a huge part of the tone, which has also been discussed. There’s no free lunch. Saying it doesn’t come with some expectations is maybe untrue, but it’s also untrue to imply that you sent money to a retailer to acquire the gear. It’s kinda wrong both ways.

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Companies used to pay $4,000.00 for an ad in a magazine. KZbin has way more value. The products are seen, heard and compared. And...people can comment and ask questions. Now, thats VALUE! Mic's, cameras, lightning, computer, interface, software, mixers, and everything else in our studios cost a TON of money...let alone out time, talent and reputations. We are worth every penny.

[@cornholy69]

Yes you are! You are both excellent music/gear KZbinrs and musicians! Keep it up 🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@cornholy69 thank you!

[@erickvalencia2016]

I kkow what you mean, i recently saw Ola Englund bend over to fender which was sad since i had respect for the guy and thought of all guys, he was the one who needed the least since he has his guitar brand and stuff, anyway to each his own, yours has been my go to gear rreview chanel on all youtube. Keep up the good work!

[@perpetualgrimace]

Honestly I think it's a service. You demonstrate what gear does, how it sounds, how it works. It's a window into how a piece of gear could be used. I own a Dual Terror because I watched one of your in-depth comparison videos and liked the sound of it compared to the rest in the price range. I don't blindly trust everyone on KZbin, but you're definitely one of the good ones.

[@MrLYPH]

We live in the golden age of gear. A large part of this era is the 10/10 youtubers like Jon and Henning. Top notch reviews of the gear your interested in is invaluable. Thank you!

[@27retrodaze]

Its called "jealousy", John... Lets all be real... haters will always hate and there will always be haters... Keep up the phenomenal work you do... Im here for it. 🤘

[@TheOtherJohnBrowne]

It's a difficult question and in some cases a slippery slope. I think these days it's much better than say a decade ago. Generally creators disclose the business relationship they have with the respective manufacturers now. I feel that wasn't always the case. Also, it's generally in the interest of the video creator to be honest as to not piss off their audience. I would think that the viewers trust is one of the most valuable assets to a content creator. Generally I trust the guys I watch (that obviously includes you). Trust is earnt and built over time.

[@Margilio5150]

Good video. There’s a difference between being skeptical and calling people liars, I see your point, Critical Thinking is a skill that not a lot of us have sometimes, but that doesn’t mean we should trust (or not) everything we see in YT, as you mentioned is better to do our own research and form an opinion based on the info we have. It took me almost 2 years to pull the trigger to get my current amp, but I couldn’t test it since that company has no distribution in my country.

[@samuelsmith4494]

The most value I get from these types of videos is hearing the gear with someone who can play, and who discloses the entire signal chain. I trust my ears. And though I enjoy hearing reviewer comments, they rarely if ever sway my own opinions based on what I hear from the gear as long as the content is high quality (like yours). The fact you can play and you disclose your signal chain is why I keep coming back. Keep up the good work and enjoy it! Also, I did recently make an amp purchase based largely (though not entirely) on one of your reviews and sure enough, the amp thru the same IR sounds just like your video. Go figure, lol.

[@djjamssatx]

Great channel. You've been doing a great job. I appreciate the amp comparisons and the recent Fractal comparison you shared in the Fractal group for the EVHiii is super useful. When you're a working musician or even just a hobbyist channels like this that are legit are super valuable.

[@Afterworkinhours]

I enjoy your reviews and Tony Mac’s. Open and honest. Also very insightful, inspiring and uplifting. Keep on being you.

[@Gizmo-st1ky]

It’s crazy that this is even a thing! I’m sure many YT channels that demo gear started off with a person who loves to try and chat about gear. Why would that change? Just because a company asked to review a product? Jon you are doing just fine and I trust you 1000% when it comes to gear that you have on your channel. We share the same love for all things guitar. One of the best things about your videos is your enthusiasm! You show a lot of personality and it makes us viewers feel like we know you in real life as a cool gear-head lol. Ignore the haters, you can’t please everyone, let them be salty. You keep being awesome and showing us awesome content. Cheers!

[@ToroKchannel]

Always interesting to hear a youtuber explain the way things are working. Most brands want honesty in the YT reviews anyway. You can feel it when a guy is really happy with the gear he's demoing and reviewing, and you can feel when the guy is saying "that's a good product" just because that's part of the deal with the brand. I think you're doing a great job, I love to watch your gear reviews, it's always very interesting and entertaining, and your music is excellent so keep it up Jon !

[@zumehhtv2090]

Jon, I just want to say I always watch your stuff when I feel burned out or feeling stuck, you help me think outside the box and give a lot of knowledge with gear, thank you for your time and effort.

[@mobbinator]

I definitely understand what you're saying. I'm a pretty small KZbinr and I've only been sponsored once, yet I've had people become doubtful of even those videos 😑 I've always trusted your opinion Jon, which is why I subscribed in the first place. Don't let those haters get you down; your stuff is the real deal. Thanks for everything you do!

[@CoreyAllgood]

I’m a little surprised this video took this long. I saw the vitriol in a certain company’s user group around one of your videos a few months ago. I was surprised at the response to your insanely mild-mannered (as usual) video. I do think you do a good job of properly weighted videos, which is why I’ve been subscribed forever. Thanks for what you do. You help me when I’m shopping.

[@oscarvestee]

I think your videos are top notch!! The tone you get on every demos is amazing!!!

[@GearStuffandThings]

As someone who is what I would consider a former KZbin creator, I appreciate what you’re saying. The main reason I stopped making Contant is because of the responses and rudeness and almost constant shit talking that goes on here it’s hard to put in hours and hours into some thing that is 15 to 20 minutes long and then have somebody do nothing but be negative in response, I respect your hustle, and I am envious of your ability to make a living doing this. It is almost impossible to do what you’re doing while being consistent and disregarding negativity. I applaud your ability to make the most of it and continue to push forward. There’s a reason your channel does well and it’s that you are dedicated and consistent.

[@bong-skot6706]

kickass that your so open!! you deserve all the pros youn get thanks

[@oriyus]

I don't count my self as a hater but as you have your passion I have my thoughts and ideas. I got sucked into gear, basically on youtube and it took me a while to realize its a distraction. It does not matter, to me, what gear you used, it's a tool for expressing yourself. In this sense any gear related channel is a sort of industry cog which will keep you chasing for next thing that will make your music better, which is a lie. Sounding better is a subjective thing, but there is a common ground in western society what is accepted and trendy and what is not, which comes from brands and influencers. I don't mind anyone chasing gear but people should see it for what it is, a business.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

I have no judgement against that way of thinking! Consider me a gear addict though haha, I live for it!

[@visionsick]

I will say I wish you showed your signal chain and post processing. Your mixing skills are so good that any amp you show can sound amazing

[@SonicDriveStudio]

I have done some drum mixing videos in the past but they didn't do really well. Guitar wise there's not much going on, just double tracking, panning and a low cut (I always mention that). It's so important to make sure a guitar tone is right from the source. If you have to "fix it in the mix" that's just not how I like to work

[@visionsick]

@@SonicDriveStudio I’m a big fan and I’ve watched the majority of your videos. You do an amazing job. Also your a great guitar player man. Keep up the good work.

[@bravestarr2001]

It's great to hear honest opinions from you guys in the community - especially because the local guitar shops are disappearing. Henning explains the business model like a boss! I kinda want a cool amp head after seeing them on your shelf. I have no need for one...

[@Turbo-D]

Just keep doing everything exactly as you are doing it now, please 😘..henning and rabea are very commercial based IMO thats why i unsubscribed a few months ago and you are one of a very few trustable gear channles thats left on youtube. cheers 🎸🎸

[@Manley156]

What I have always dug about your 'reviews' is they are genuinely demos. You don't try to sell us with words or businessman speak. You take the tool, apply it and make it shine. That is a honest message in my eyes.

[@basspartout]

Been a subscriber to your channel from early days and always enjoyed your enthusiasm, your killer tracks and playing and your reviews are very very balanced and honest to me. Keep up the great work.

[@LonelyRocker]

Thanks for putting this out there! And for the record, you are well spoken. You didn't have to say this but I'm certain the bulk of your community will truly appreciate you even more for this. I've learned the hard way that some will just go out of their way to knock you down. I have the same philosophy as you where I try to present positivity and not waste time on things I don't like. But people still look to poke holes in what I do sometimes. Keep those great tones flowing. That's what most of us are here for!!

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Thanks buddy!

[@Eldestthorin]

I enjoy watching all the different gear reviewers on KZbin and everyone's searches for a different tone. Listening to all the different channels reviews gives me a better idea of the amps or cabs tone. Also, some channels explore different features of amps that other channels dont. Channels are resources to be used.

[@mrchrisbeaver]

There's some truth with some bigger KZbin channels not being sincere with product demonstrations but it's definitely not all of them. Obviously channels that are shops will want to give everything a glowing review purely for sales so I never trust shop reviews but do watch some of them purely for entertainment if I enjoy their content. When it can get irritating is when something launches and everyone who was given the product pre launch to do a review pretty much loves the product. That's when my spider senses tingle and I'll wait for real customer reviews to see if there was any flaws overlooked. This channel is great for listening to comparisons then making your own mind up and the content quality is always top notch. There will always be people who knock what you're doing John, just ignore them and carry on. You can't please all the people all of the time

[@smeemusic]

John and henning. The colab we didn’t know we wanted! I honestly enjoy seeing KZbinrs colab in any capacity. For the record I think you guys are doing kthulu’s work!!! I feel like being a reviewer is an incredibly important role in society and I’ll never understand the “shill” comments and hate. And being mad about sponsorships or making money in general. Just makes no sense. I mean I wanna get paid for work I do so wouldn’t you also like to get paid for your work?! And I mean if we wanna keep watching this content it needs to be sustainable for the creators. So yeah, John make your money bro! Anyone who has something bad to say is probably just jealous.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Thanks!

[@djentleman5129]

A guy with a Star Wars shirt standing in front of a wall of amps ... HOW CAN'T I LOVE HIM!?!?!? 😂😍🥰

[@TheMirrorify]

For me, your channel is second to none for transparent comparisons where you let the gear do the talking. In saying that, I've definitely been lead down the garden path by other youtubers reviewing gear where they conveniently leave out certain features.

[@braxal6983]

I really appreciate your video. I truly like that we what we have on KZbin. Growing up in the 70's and 80's we never had such access. I generally love all the youtubers and appreciate them. It is a wonderful source of information and I love the interaction. I think the scene has really changed on KZbin over the years when it comes to reviews about products. It use to be so matter of fact when people would make review. They would not have please click the link to so and so store to buy your gear or manufactures letting KZbinrs review gear for something be it money, gear or anything. I think most of us like comparisons. Like, why should I buy product A over B and C. I am sure if you have a friend you trust that has knowledge they will give you a recommendation on what to get and will also give you recommendation of what not to get. These days it is so hard to find anyone criticizing anything on KZbin. A product gets released and we immediately have 10 videos about that product that day and how great it is. Some may question that. To me that is just part of doing it. I think many want to hear what to avoid as well as what to get. Its about confirmation of a possible purchase. I know I can go on and on about this subject and I know there is more to it, but I do understand both sides of this subject and I appreciate that we are all moving forward to make the community better for everyone involved. I do not condone anyone being nasty to anyone. There is no value in it and a waste of time doing so and you look bad. We all need to be civil and respectful.

[@AnimalJohn85]

Certain youtubers (Henning and fricker being the 2 that spring to mind) are untrustworthy purely because everything they do or say is to get a reaction nothing more. Then theres youtubers such as yourself with an actual passion for the gear who will look at it from a buyers standpoint ( regardless if youve paid for it or not ) use it in a demo and give a decent rundown of all the positives and negatives. This to me is trustworthy. Of course I will always try before I buy being as every piece of gear sounds different in person and you cant get the feel for an instrument off a vid. Keep doin what your doin sir, you do a proper job of it (and have an enviable collection of stonkin good amps) :)

[@shreder75]

Fricker is THE WORST. the guy can't play to save his life and never recorded anybody of note. All he does is scream.

[@abadakus1]

Thanks for your work man! It's amazing how much time and money guys like me saved thanks to good reviewers like you. Getting info online and not buying all the stuff I don't really need is a blessing!

[@PippPriss]

I do believe that a lot of reviews are somewhat biased, perhaps more unconsciously than anything. But that is exactly the human element I personally am seeking for in watching reviews. And for different aspects, I check out different KZbinrs! If people were as technocratic and neutral as they claim, they would just be interested in technical datasheets and frequency plotting graphs where you run a sinewave from 20Hz-22kHz as well as white noise through the amp and then compare that output vs. "the other amps" output and use data analysis to come to conclusions. ;-) Long story short: you do you, as you do good!

[@nobodyimportant76467]

Great video. Ultimately I use YT videos to help make me aware of new products I might be interested in. If I do decide to buy something I always buy from a place with a good return policy or from a place where I can try the gear out first. It’s ultimately up to me what I buy and whether I keep it. Not sure why anyone would imply otherwise

[@devouredremains]

Jealousy is a curse for some people. They want free gear too. Some folks hate seeing others have more success than them. It's just like the entire "sellout" aspect within underground music scenes. They will only ever be happy if you are as stagnant as they are.

[@maynardburger]

Of course people want free gear, but that's not the context in which people bring it up here. The reason is because people assume, rightly or wrongly, that people who are getting free gear might well find it more....'lucrative' to say nice things about a company and its products. We can trust when people say this isn't the case, but let's be real - it is absolutely happening to some degree with at least some people. It seems like it'd be impossible not to. They absolutely have incentive to be known as an outlet that will 'say good things' about somebody's product so more companies will send them stuff. Not just to 'have free stuff', but also just to ensure they have more stuff to make content with. Any creator that is too critical too often will likely find themselves blacklisted. In the end, it is going to taint some people's perception of how 'honest' any outlet getting free products can really be.

[@oshikiri999]

I don't let anyone on the Internet dictate what i buy lol. I watch them because either i enjoy their playing or just want to googley eye the gear I'm about to purchase

[@pieve5516]

Some reviewers are honest and great. You, Anderton's when they do shootouts, Guitaristas, Pedal Show, and Perkins. But really, most reviewers just push their products as better than sliced bread. The elephant in the room is that the sound quality of KZbin is very limited sooooo we need to rely on the reviewer. We simply can't judge most of the time because of the sound quality. Anyway, because of your review I bought a PRS MT15 and still loving it.

[@MeTuLHeD]

KZbin reviews are unique in that we can hear for ourselves what a piece of gear sounds like. The reviewer's judgement is important. But ultimately I trust my own ears. Everyone has biases. That's a given. But hearing is believing. It's what makes KZbin reviews so valuable. On another note, I'm not sure I quite buy Henning's distinction. If a manufacturer sends you a guitar and you get to keep it, that is by definition a free guitar. I'm not hating on you guys for it. It's a perk of being an influencer! Gear manufacturers have LONG endorsed professional musicians, giving them guitars, amps, pedals, strings, etc. And no one hates on their favorite guitarist for having an endorsement deal. I realize that KZbin reviewing IS different. But again, back to my initial premise. We get to listen to what the reviewer hears and render our own judgement.

[@mayhem4830]

Well I can personally say I have accumulated 1000's of dollars of amps guitars and pedals from watching your channel. When a new product comes out, I always come here first because I know if it's on your channel, I'm going to get a great demo of the item! Keep up the great work Jon!

[@randolphcarlisle2976]

I used to believe whatever KZbinrs said about gear but not so much anymore honestly. I still enjoy watching the videos, but I don’t just go out and buy the "Duper Mega Death Distortion Pedal" just because "Ultra Jammin Guitar" or whoever said so.

[@monovladd4392]

is seriously? Man!!... you are one of the best (and one of my favorites) amplifier review channels available on KZbin. Because you make amplifiers sound in all possible facets and musical styles impeccably, don't let bad comments from mediocre people discourage you. Thanks to you I didn't have to buy a couple of amplifiers and get to know others better. and your demos are great. You do an excellent job man. keep going like this 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@sqidvishus]

I don't know what people expect. One would have to have a HUGE Patreon sponsorship in order to make fully independent reviews. The old guitar magazines reviewed products who also bought ad space. Web sites still do that. I think it's up to viewers to find reviewers with whom we are comfortable. As a for instance, your amp shootouts are wonderful as the results simply speak for themselves. Keep up the stellar work.

[@xanderjones6239]

Among all the voices of people putting you down, I'll be a voice to build you up, Jon. I bought the ampero ii based on your review. I loved your honesty of the product, and the depth at which you give detail. I've never looked back since buying that. Same goes for all your other videos. Your one of the only gear reviewers I watch anymore. I love how you're just a guy who likes to make tunes, and nerd out. Your songs are hella good, and you remind me of myself. Keep going man. You're onto something special here.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Wow, thanks so much!

[@xanderjones6239]

@@SonicDriveStudio cheers! Here's to making more music

[@Edika12]

I think the negativity towards youtube reviewers comes from a time when it wasn't disclosed that said piece of gear was sent by the company to ne reviewed and it was either a paid for review or a sponsored review. Plus the fact that most of times there was a script and you would see reviewers more or less saying the same things on their videos. This isn't the case, as much, anymore and the more transparent reviewers would be followed by more people. I've been following Jon and watching his videos for a while and enjoy his content and his reviews and demos of equipment are quite thorough. I like his comparisons too as you can see the differences between amps or pickups or guitars. My only comment would be he's overly positive about the gear he demos so he either only demos stuff he really likes or just tries to find the positives in each gear, which is not bad, but showing of some of the drawbacks is not that bad either. Since both Jon and Henning do this for a living and put a lot of time and effort to make quality videos it's unreasonable to think they'd do it for free. It's more than acceptable to do paid reviews and they always disclose that. But getting gear they get to keep, even without getting paid money, is a form of paid content, as they don't have to actually pay for their gear themselves. I'm not sure how much their rate is but getting an amp or a guitar that would cost more than, let's say €2K, is quite a chunk of money they don't have to invest themselves. I'm not arguing against that and I'm guessing they've researched international commercial law a lot more than myself, to disclose their videos, and I do get Henning's point about having to use the gear more vs other stuff and how much that would cost them from not featuring other gear. In conclusion, I agree with the videos and points being made, just not sure gear that you get to keep can't be considered a form of payment, as for the company it's an advertisement cost. If they have to return the gear then that's another story.

[@ledrhodes5077]

Thanks for this video. Just know that 99% of us really enjoy and get value from your videos. I subscribe here because of several reasons. 1. Your content is in the context of heavy rock guitar. That is what I primarily play. 2. I think you do a great job of taking us through important features for hard rock guitarists of the products you review. 3. I like your relaxed yet enthusiastic style of your comments. It's obvious that YOU ARE ONE OF US rock guitar players!! 4. I always dig your playing!! Final thought/suggestion: It would be cool if you made a "Making of the video" video to show our subscribers how you make these episodes. Keep on ROCKING us with your videos brother!! Long live Sonic Drive Studio!!

[@DarthV506]

The real elephant in the room is that a lot of channels need/want the release day views. Sure a lot can just buy the piece of gear but they aren't getting early looks to have things released for embargo times. Not getting those views will also hurt for search results and suggested videos. Always give a brand a bad rap, there's a risk of losing access to launch day. Even if companies aren't giving them something to keep, they are providing them the device to make the video. Also be very wary of 'demo' channels that never seem to have anything negative to say about any product. I want to hear the good and the bad, then I can make an informed decision.

[@maynardburger]

Yea, that's it. Not to mention any outlet that is seen as 'critical' can be looked at as not worth sending free gear to(aka blacklisting), since there's a larger chance of a negative review. Whether the creators want to acknowledge it or not, they are being used as advertising tools by these companies, and because of that, we simply CANNOT completely disassociate the fact that creators are thus heavily incentivized to not be *too* critical even if they are genuinely unhappy with a product, and to generally be as generous as they can in the praise they do give. All we can do is trust certain creators are still being honest, but we all know it's not really fully possible when your job literally relies on getting the free gear or early samples or whatever. Thankfully with a lot of gear, the truth is in the ears. That's the thing that really saves it for me.

[@DarthV506]

@@maynardburger Not sure if you're supposed to name drop other youtubers, but Cordy had to buy the latest NDSP plugin because the company didn't like his, well deseved, criticism of the QC. And after his first look at the tonemaster, doubt he's on Fender's xmas card list either :P

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

As a small channel with very few requests to look at anything (a handful of amp sims so far), I mainly buys stuff out of pocket. Honestly, if it sucks, it is hard to want to review it or spend time trying to figure out something to say about it. I send it back, or sell it. The only exception is if I get something that I know is good, but just isn’t my favorite or that has a lot of promising features that could be updated and improved (like most modeling tech).

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Dude, I just realised I wasn't subbed to your channel, I am now! Cheers!

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

@@SonicDriveStudio thanks man. Your channel was one of the main inspirations for me to take a look around my room and go… “I could talk about some of this stuff”. Not to mention your wall of amps is something to aspire to! 😂

[@drrodopszin]

For me what really matters with openly or hidden sponsored videos is the comparison part. I do not want to trust the excitement of the KZbinr, I want to hear if the gear holds up against other stuff. So, if it is an emulation of a Mesa Boogie say, how does it compare with the real stuff (even in things like if master knob of the plugin is only volume, or does it change tone like the real amps). In this regard I think there can be a middle ground: sponsored content gets a decent demo, we get a fair comparison. And good luck with getting more sponsorship, I really like the content you make.

[@RobertWJackson]

Great video, Jon. Like we discussed the other day, this is a HUGE misconception that we have to deal with, but it’s one that is always going to be there, and therefore we have to readdress it every now and then. It’s unfortunate that that’s the way that it is, but that’s the way that it is. By the way, Henning is absolutely right. There’s no such thing as “free gear” in this gig. Even “free” ain’t FREE. As he explained, it’s far from it.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Cheers man! I'm glad Henning corrected me on that!

[@RobertWJackson]

@@SonicDriveStudio He’s good at that. LOL He corrected me on that once upon a time, as well.

[@pensive_]

True about "Reviewers cannot be trusted" in general , however what you do is epic. Your playing is on another level and I get really accurate opinions from this channel. I dont know who gave you "nonsense", to warrant this. No bullshit from this channel, never got bad advice here, so I dont care about the micro-complaints from idiots who do not understand business and success. I found that all your advice were honest, and that is ALL that matters.

[@babtanian]

I enjoy your content and have for a couple years. It's well informed, but light-hearted and fun. Don't sweat it Jon. You're making content in the "black pill" era where there is a default mindset of distrust for any and all institutions, systems of authority, etc., and sometimes that extents to people of prominence, celebrities and content creators; essentially anyone on a screen trying to provide you with information. Unfortunately, a great deal of this mistrust is earned, and since people have great difficulty differentiating propaganda from authenticity, often times the safe bet is to just treat everything with heavy skepticism. While I believe this mindset may be more justifiable when it comes to matters of politics, finance, health, etc., it becomes a meme when applied to every aspect of life, which is what the black pill movement is essentially about. And of course, the internet is gonna internet. This has always been the case, but people are more negative currently in general, so you're inevitably going to come into contact with more of it.

[@Corey_42]

I rely on reviewer input. I'm not one to visit stores, and I rather order items. So, there is a lot of weight from reviewers on choices I make to buy something. I appreciate the work. Thanks

[@xiwiwix]

I love your channel, Henning, Kyle Bull, XRC, Fluff, Ola's al as well. I believe y'all always give your honest opinion. And of course, beautiful Grandma Glenn, as well. I might have miss spoken on a post recently and said the term shrill, but upon reflection, the term I was looking for as was "meta". The gear that's popular because it's getting a lot of exposure.

[@xiwiwix]

Nope, when back and found the post, I said "hyped" gear. Haha so that's the same thing as meta.

[@xiwiwix]

I feel like people get shrill and negative Nancy confused. Just because someone doesn't shit on something, there's some kind of dumb feeling of "shrilling". Some people just aren't negative. I think that's my take. I feel like, you and Kyle Bull are similar in that sense. Y'all try out gear that's already in y'alls vain, so naturally you're gonna like it, and not only that, y'all deliver on the tone. I never heard you once say something sounded good and it was obviously dog water. These keyboard cowboys are very brash hidden behind the safety of their computer screens.

[@GregMerritt-ws8tq]

I'll say this: 9×10 times, it's sour grapes. We've seen a few waves of individuals discover and evolve ways to make a living as a bedroom players, and now that avenue is as saturated as album/touring is. They're just salty because they haven't tried soon enough or hard enough basically. Keep doing what y'all do. I'm a fan.

[@PeterMoore350]

You’re one of my “trusted” YT channels with regards to gear reviews. You’ve nothing to worry about. We all enjoy watching your content. Cheers from NZ 😎🎸🤘

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Cheers Pete!

[@PeterMoore350]

@@SonicDriveStudio no probs. Were you ever in a band or are currently in a band ? I really enjoy the tracks you create whilst reviewing guitars and amps etc. any tracks on Apple Music, Spotify etc ?

[@SonicDriveStudio]

@PeterMoore350 from 2005 until 2010 I was in a band called Intwine, later I produced my own record with Valhella which you can listen to in its entirety on this channel. Now I'm in GhostHour with a great singer but we're not very active. We released 5 songs so far

[@PeterMoore350]

@@SonicDriveStudio cool thx for that. I’ll check it out

[@77523]

Hey dude, you get the best tones from your gear on KZbin. Your riffs are great as well !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@marksr12]

You work hard and deserve to be paid! I have never questioned your integrity my friend, that's why I'm subscribed! I enjoy your videos and really enjoy your playing. Keep up the good work.

[@Kessellish]

Much love from Australia 🇦🇺 I have never listened to any of the negative comments. Love your channel and continue the good work ❤❤❤

[@tylerjames460]

I think the majority of us are here for the exact content you create. Of course I’ve never met you personally but I feel like the Jon you portray in your videos is someone I would be friends with in the real world. Your tones are bad ass and your videos are high quality! We’re here for SDS!

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Thanks mate!

[@cliffordballiet4181]

Internet trolls abound. FWIW, I really enjoy your content and look forward to new installments! Your reviews are honest and valuable in my opinion.

[@JonathanKillstring]

So, I used to be a music reviewer. And maybe this is more of a statement about me than the business of reviews, but I found that my relationship with music was just... different, when I was writing about it every day. What I liked, why I liked it, etc. Same when I was doing A&R work for a management team. When you've listened to 200 metalcore bands on MySpace that day (dating myself here), the 201st has a really hard time standing out. And something that's unique and different drastically increases in value to me. But that doesn't make it better, or even good. And the inverse is true: stuff that I wrote off as mid might later become some of my favorites. Stuff that I sang the praises of didn't actually resonate with me once I was out of the game. It's all about experience. if somebody plays games all day in order to talk about them, their experience with games is fundamentally different from mine. If somebody is reviewing their 100th tube screamer-type pedal, that's gonna be very different from my experience (where I don't currently have one). So there is some valuble discourse to be had over the difference in experience that a KZbinr might have with a piece of gear than a weekend cover band player. Same with a bderoom producer. Same with a touring musician. As somebody who's done all of the above, lemme tell you: I liked different stuff in different eras! So I think it's productive to talk about those differences. But I think it's worth keeping in mind where they come from. Touring musicians who came up in the 80's and 90's swear by Boss pedals - because they're durable, and you can pretty much always find a new one on tour. These days, it's Kempers or AxeFX. Doesn't mean that any of that stuff is inherently better: what it means, is that it does the job of touring well. Anyway, we've all got different use cases, and even the cheap stuff is pretty good these days! Pretty good time to be a musician if you ask me. :)

[@williambyrne6855]

No need to suffer fools. Your work is greatly appreciated.

[@autechrr]

Love your content. Simply can't get enough. The haters can just move on and watch something else.

[@harshtruth9148]

So Im really into my Adam Jones playing lately and I playing through my DSL20 w/ 2x12...... Im dying to play through the Diesel VH4 that Adam uses but obviously dont have $5K to go buy one right this second...you have tons of pedals....do you own the VH4 pre-amp pedal from Diesel? If you do I'd really appreciate a Diesel VH4 amp vs. Pre-amp pedal comparison....im thinking about buying the pedal but wanna hear a good compare first. Thanks in advance.

[@Joe-vc3cc]

You are very realistic!!! I trust your reviews - I used to follow some big names but you can see the sell out ..... Its hard to stay honest ... But , Stay honest. 🤘

[@TVoltG]

I have been waiting for two years to open a small biz building some guitars and such. Because for one, I want to make sure that everything is consistent. Second, I want to make sure that if I sell something, it will be perfect. Being OCD, I may never open my business. Lol. But if I do, I want honest reviews. Because if there is a negative, I would want to know, what I need to improve on. I have learned a lot by watching your reviews and others as well. It's refreshing to see the negative with the positives. It doesn't slag a business, it's stating the fact of said product. Something may be a personal taste which many like you state. But others may love those things. It's all a grain of salt. Anyways, keep rocking Jon and thanks for your reviews. I still love my Mesa Single Recto I went and bought based on your video.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Thanks! Enjoy your Mesa!

[@braule80]

Keep going Bro. Ure so nice YTer So sick riffs Haters will hate ... And lovers will love. Nevermind... ❤

[@1MrJack1]

I think people should be looking at gear reviews to see what the product can and can't do and how it sounds. At the end of the day you have to look at gear reviews and make your own objective decisions on if it's right for you. I've seen reviews where the reviewer didn't like the product, but I still bought it and enjoyed it and vice versa. Sometimes I buy gear that has good reviews, but it just wasn't what I expected and returned it and THATS OKAY! I don't think some people realize that if there weren't sponsored gear reviews then there might not be any reviews on that piece of gear at all. That would be bad for all of us. The more reviews on a product the easier it is to make decisions on if it's right for you.

[@ZacharyMoonshine]

Keep up the great work man! I love watching all these videos!

[@florisbackx1744]

I do feel it is important to be skeptical as a consumer and viewer, but.... Being skeptical is not the same as being distrustful or calling someone a liar. Being skeptical is a healthy thing and necessary, even if it is just to keep the FOMO under control ; ). I do feel it is a problem that most of the gear channels only make positive video's, although I understand it from their (and your) perspective but it would help the consumer to also know what products should be better left alone. Anyway keep doing what you are doing I truly enjoy your content but plz let us be skeptical and always keep your perspective in mind versus the perspective a person who invests years of savings into an amp.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Of course it's important to listen to yourself!

[@samuelsmith4494]

I forgot to mention this in my other post, but one other thing you might want to consider disclosing is your guitar tuning on each demo. I'm thinking a lot of people might find that useful.

[@ericday492]

Although I do get the sentiment of not wanting to review things that "suck", the issue I see is that 1) people will only see (mostly) positive reviews, and therefore not know to gauge your reviews in a bubble, and 2) people won't know which products on the market suck if they don't see reviews about them. To elaborate on the first point, what I mean to say is that people will claim "shill' because there is no indication of criticism. Even if reviews are done for products which are "on your radar" or only "things that your interested in", if not many criticisms arise throughout years of reviews, how can someone know if a reviewer is able to be critical of a product. I guess that's why someone who is highly critical of products, giving a rating on a point system or the like, will not receive the same kind of backlash. Although, they might just receive backlash from people who don't agree with them and their opinion about the product, which is a whole other story. Additionally, on the second point, I think regular viewers of your channel know what they're (we're) in for. Solid music with awesome riffs/songs, and more of a showcase than a review of a piece of gear. I don't think I come to SDS to listen to hard hitting facts about why the middle pick-up on the newest Fender Strat revision isn't up to par with the Made in Mexico released in 1992. I think I would call you more of a KZbin Showcaser than a reviewer, if that makes any sense. Someone who says "this what I like to make, and I am using this tool to make what I like. Does it sound to your liking within the context of my music? If so, then you should consider picking it up". I think the point is that you let us see the ins and outs of a product which can be seen within the span/constraint of a 30 minute video with the limitation of the gear you already have (you couldn't possibly test the clean channel on an Engl with every guitar/pick-up combo you own, that would be insane). Also, reviewing every piece of gear within a certain space would be untenable, so I think the realistic approach is to look at the things you like and go from there. Also, unlike other products, music gear is harder to mask. For example, I also like backpacks, but I can't try them on, so I watch reviews and take a shot at the best one I can find, making the best informed decision I can make. I think with music gear, if it's not to the viewers liking, we can be the judge of that. I think the only nuances which we'll never be able to know are the feel of something, but that's just the reality of it. Maybe someday someone will invent a feel transmitter so we can know what a certain fretboard feels like through KZbin. Anyway, I hope you know I am just trying to engage and really just playing the Devil's Advocate in order to express the reason why people have perhaps chosen to beef with you. I believe people most likely expect criticism from a reviewer, but I think they miss an important piece of context, which I think you have addressed succinctly in your video. All the best, Jon!

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Thanks for sharing your in depth thoughts on the subject

[@DaMegadeth]

Hey man, sorry to hear about this kind of comments, i really love your channel, the reviews and content in general. A lot of us really appreciate your channel and what you do, so thanks a lot man.

[@kevindie]

*_I’m subbed and watch your videos because the riffs you make up to demo amps are legitimately some of the best heavy riffs I’ve ever heard. I don’t know if you play in a band or ever have, but I’d personally love hearing an album’s worth of your heavy riffs!_* *_With that being said, as someone who doesn’t lurk around on message boards, the tone of this video felt very combative toward me, specifically Henning’s part. Also, saying it’s disrespectful for someone to think you can’t be honest with a paid promotion or sponsorship… I can understand how that would annoy you, because you know what your intentions are, but let’s be honest; there are not a lot of sponsored videos out there where the creator flat out dunks on the product. Are viewers genuinely to believe that all these guitars and amps and cabs and effects are just that good? I think it’s more of a stretch to believe that than to believe creators lean more favorably to the companies that are making their dream job a possibility. Again, I personally don’t question, or really care about, your integrity. I’m interested in how something sounds and I like your demos the best. But to try and gaslight very obvious conflicts of interest seems very naive to me._*

[@SonicDriveStudio]

It just feels disrespectful when someone calls you a liar, it's as simple as that. Can't put it any other way

[@FunkMauzz]

Gewoon doorgaan met je super handige en informatieve Video's...😊

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Dank u!

[@MetalZoned]

I think most people understand that when this is your livelihood you have to treat it like a business but that doesn't mean you can't be honest and transparent. So I think you and a lot of the other reviewers I watch are able to do that and really doesn't seem like a problem. I just think it's awesome that people can make a living on KZbin and show off this cool gear.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Yeah, like I said the majority of the people on here tend to be very reasonable!

[@undercoil]

If everyone tells you that you're doing right -awesome.If one person tells you you're doing wrong - it doesn't matter.

[@dasg.1925]

I remember your video of the the evh5150 amps which seems to have some quality problems. I trust you 👍

[@HotRats73]

Music community has always been filled with envy people. You can see that a lot in your local scene concerts/festivals/contests. With social media is obviously worse. Keep up with the good work Jon

[@Patrick-rf7vx]

I believe that you are honest, but as soon as someone works with a company they are subject to bias. This is very well studied and is very human. It is great that your opinions are your own, but they are biased compared to when you buy stuff with your own money. That’s why I really like your comparison videos, because I can make up my own mind. A review in a vacuum is not really that helpful to me, because there are so many factors that influence guitar tone.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

More amp comparisons coming soon btw!

[@joshprice7436]

Nice idea for a video. I think this is an important conversation. Well done.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Thanks!

[@bhosterman]

As someone who has done this on a much smaller scale... I would say to the critics. "But did you like what you saw and heard?" Who cares if you, or in my case, I like or dislike a product. I've watched 1000s of reviews and made my ultimate decision to buy based on if I thought the product met my needs. Not wholly on the opinion of the person presenting it. Sure, their opinion plays a role but if I think some product sounds like dog squeeze and the person who's making a video about it loves it... next. Honestly, your original music is what brings me back to the channel. You write some really cool instrumentals for your demos.

[@elmolewis9123]

The old adage "Those that can do, those that can't..." applies to this subject. The trolls that like to spout off are in the "can't do" corner.

[@jamesshafer6700]

I always figured that if it’s a good product and you like it, you’ll review it. If it’s some thing that sucks, we don’t see that product and never even know about it. Which is cool with me.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Why waste time on something that sucks? I'd rather spend time working with great products and cool companies/people

[@misterringer]

@@SonicDriveStudio It's a double edged sword. Reviewing something that sucks and pointing out shortcoming can generate a lot of views. But companies may shy away from your channel if you slam too many products. I personally take all paid placement with a grain of salt. Music/sound stuff has a lot of subjectivity to it anyway.

[@maynardburger]

@@misterringer Thing is - getting gear free is *also* paid. I hate when reviewers treat it as something different just cuz literal money wasn't exchanged, only a product. And even if there isn't some mandatory contract to do a review, there's still a clear expectation, or else the free products will stop rolling in. And without those products rolling in, I doubt most of these creators could afford to keep up their channels as a career. So the end result is - you kinda ALWAYS need to take all these reviews with some grain of salt. If it weren't for the fact that we can actually hear the results ourselves in most cases, I dont think I'd find them that useful at all.

[@misterringer]

@@maynardburger you're not wrong. Comp is comp.

[@T0neXIII]

I'm here because you have a happy, cool and pleasant delivery and it's supported by decades of obvious ability. Likely most others as well. Those you are speaking of just want a reaction from you. Just like every celebrity in public. Good thing you're not as pretty as TS.

[@ronnieparfait]

Bottom line is just trust your ears, if someone is demoing an amp or pedal or even a guitar and it sounds like crap would you go out and buy it.. 🤔🤘🏼✌🏼

[@RomainG6409]

The issue, if there is one, is not that the brands give you free gears, of offers you other gifts (that is something for instance that is forbidden from partners, clients or suppliers in most companies or industry, it is even illegal not just forbidden. When I was an international manager in a corporate company I did not even had the right to accept a bottle of wine or any gift from our clients/suppliers/partners ...) . No the issue could be more that because you become friends with these brands (that's human), and because you are indeed a human being full of feelings (good ones as most of us 😀), you then will maybe lose a little bit of your objectivity as not to offense your friends when reviewing their gears, maybe you won't say 100% of what you really think about the gears you test (or in the contrary if you don't like someone, or a brand, you could then not be objective either because your feelings will drive your opinion)... That is an absolute normal (and human) reaction. This I why I do not look to your channels (influencer) as to take any buying decision but more because you have great contents and videos that are great to look at ... and if I want to make sure I will find a 100% objective review, I then will try to find an "amateur" youtuber who's just making a test of the gear he just bought and that I want but who is not doing that for a living. I guess, unfortunately, that your jobs and channels are going to be at risk one day or another ... because there should be no difference between you and any other company or industry when it comes to regulation and laws ... maybe then it will be required for you to chose a brand(s) as to be 100% recognized as one of their official salers ... I don't know, we will see. Peace out !

[@NinecoreNeil]

The way I see it is the viewers have ears and eyes of their own,I always encourage them to use them,also what’s good for me might not be good for them,we are all different! If gear is of no interest to me like say a tele I would not put it on my channel. On a side note there is a lot of good gear around now way more than when I started playing.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Good points mate!

[@scottwhitlow8468]

Question for you - do you make 100% of your income from youtube? Or do you have to supplement your income with other part time sources? I know this is more of a personal question so I understand if you don’t answer. It was something I was just curious on with how guitarists make a living on KZbin. Thanks and really enjoy the channel! 👍🏻

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Sometimes I do mixing on the side, stuff like that

[@AdamDallas]

I think this is an interesting and important video. You're essentially pulling the curtain back a little bit here Jon, and I, for one, appreciate it. I think anyone with some degree of intelligence should understand everything that's been said in this video to the point where there shouldn't really be any new information here. In today's climate, everyone needs to market their brand and be competitive. I feel like everyone thinks that being a KZbinr/Twitch Streamer/Any content creator is this promised land where you're famous, make money and life is perfect. But I can imagine that it's not that at all, it's like any business where you need to be strategic with investments, opinions and everything that you do. As great as online content is, the fact that the consumer doesn't exchange actual cash for it (most times) has effectively devalued it for everyone, to the point where everything feels free. In reality, nothing is free. Companies need sales, content creators need to fill mouths, services need revenue, etc. etc. This is a very long winded way of me effectively saying Jon, it's an integrity move for you to put out a video like this, and I'm sure there are trolls who will disagree or get offended at something, but you shouldn't need to defend the way you make a living, especially when you're providing us with such great content. Keep up the amazing work, I love your videos.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Thanks, appreciate your comment!