I sold a lot of things this year. But I have a massive Wet Dry Wet Rig and the stereo effects include Strymon Flint, Lex, Mobius, Timeline, 2 That's Right 2 2290p's, Boss SDE-3000d and EVH versions, and finally added the Eventide H90 this Year!! The Balance Era and Take the Van presets are a few of my Favorites and I have been working on a few Lukather presets as well. Other utility pieces this year are the Lehle P Split III and Boss NS-1X!
2024 was the year I finally got an Axe Fx3 - and I'm blow away by it! I'm not new to modelers (been using a Helix with the band for years) but for recording I've always been a tube amp + effects kind of guy. After getting the Fractal unit I haven't even turned on my amps. Well, not entirely true, I did turn on my JCM800 once to see if I *really* could get that same tone with the Axe - so set up a preset which allowed me to A/B the amp in a loop with the model. Turns out I could.....
For lots of reasons I'm on a strict gear diet, so watching you get to work with all this wonderful stuff is a delicious source of vicarious pleasure. What a great year.
Hahahaha my channel is probably the equivalent of one of those BBQ channels where they're always cooking the rarest/most expensive/strangest meats. Thanks for all your support too mate. Always look forward to your very balanced and nuanced takes on the gear :0
IMO, that Les Paul is the best sounding guitar I’ve ever heard on your channel. Those harmonics at 14:08 forward are nasty! Some serious mojo in that thing! 😍
For myself, this year I went overboard and over my budget, but was able to acquire and flip couple of things to achieve what I really wanted.-Boss ir-2, S by solar V and the T Rex mud honey 2. And hopefully in 2025 I've been slowly saving to find my first Gibson Les Paul studio 🙏🤘🎸🤞
I still need a "real" SLO in my life! I love that you have the Prometheus in here too. Definitely my highlight with the LCFR-150 speaker. It's amazing how it can handle gobs of gain while retaining clarity.
I picked up a few things this year: a Tonex One set up to be a backup, Headrush Core which I'm really digging since they released an editor for it, IR-J, and a couple other things.
Great review Leon, that Soldano really suits you. My favorite gear of the year was stumbling upon the Softube Amp Room Marshall suite, I’ve been a Marshall tube amp guy forever and it really blew me away. For a guy who only has time to play at night when the kids are sleeping it’s a godsend
Very likely one of my favorites is the Crazy Tube Circuits Sidekick JR paired with the XT footswitch. Your and Pete Thorn's videos of it helped me make the decision and considering what you get, it's worth the price tag. I was on the lookout for a retro-flavored, straightforward multi-effects device and it really delivers. Thanks, dude. Very sweet tones combined with my purple SLO pedal. 😎
This year I bought a new guitar. I got the PRS DW CE Hardtail 24 signature model of Dusty Waring. Absolute joy to play this guitar. I have not touched my other guitars since getting this one. It is super versatile and it is easy to play. You can get super clean tones to seriously face melting metal tones on this guitar. I run this through a Hughes & Kettner Grandmiester 40 Deluxe tube amp. The first few weeks I had it I went from playing twice a week to playing 6 days a week and I am now averaging 5 days a week! This guitar makes even the most simplest riffs sound awesome. This guitar really embodies playing leads silky smooth. I love it!
Fractal VP4, which you were a big influence in my purchase . Right now, I'm running into the front of a Tonex pedal out to a Fryette Powerstation to a 212 Mojotone cab with neo creambacks. Had an HX Effects and still have 2 Hx ones. One thing I noticed is the line 6 units drives don't sound good in front of a clean preset on the Tonex, but thE VP 4 really lights them up. A huge Thank You for influencing me in the right direction.
Pedal standouts this year were Boss SDE-3000EVH, CTC White Whale v2, and pretty much everything PastFX did, but especially the Mischief. Amps, I got a Laney L5 Studio head which has been fun to play, great tones at manageable volume. Guitars, just got a pink paisley tele from artist guitars; crazy specs for the price…neck is very good and SS frets which I prefer. Hope you’ll continue having fun with your gear Leon. Excellent videos again this year!
@@LeonToddWell I had to return the first one because of bad neck issues and some bad blems QC shouldn’t have missed, so I guess they can be a bit hit and miss, but Artist have great returns service. They also don’t have great sounding tele pups, but they’re decent. They also don’t have any treble bleed circuit which means the volume knob isn’t very useful. Need a volume pedal.
Hey Leon... Love to see what everyone plays with.. especially you this will be good to see what you've had and have to play besides the unbelievable fractal.. ... Amazing stuff ... Take care and keep playing mate.. 🌏 😺 🌏 your ship should be coming in soon .. it's name is Music.. been listening to Cros Stills Browne and Profit lately .. impressed with that tele surfer sound and the fender mate.. 🥂..ps. sure would be hard to pick just one guitar of yours
For me, including gear that came out before 2024, it's: - BOSS IR-2 - Eventide Tricerachorus/Micropitch - Source Audio Collider - Squier Contemp. Strat HH FR (with EMG SL20 loaded pickguard)
Good video buddy really liked the Les Paul and 335 guitars and licks. Sounded great. Take care 😎👍✌️🎸. Just bought an Esp 1000 with Emg active pickups. Love it 😊
My best purchase of the year was a custom Tom Anderson Angel 24.75 scale guitar. It is a great guitar. Honorable mention to the Fryette 2/90/2 power amp that I picked up used for an impossible to beat price.
Thanks for the video. You show a lot of stuff I just cannot afford to get all of it. You make me go after sometimes 1 piece of gear I would actually use and not just collect dust. I think my favorite piece of gear I got this year was actually a mixer. I bought the ZOOM L-20, still learning a few things on it. But it can do so much in studio and live. Studio only so far. But loving it.
My favorite gear from this year, Crazy Tube Circuits Unobtanium, Wampler Andy Wood Gearbox, Driftwood Purple Nightmare Tube Preamp Pedals (filthy), and Friedman IR-J Jake E Lee Tube Preamp Pedal. Also shoutout to some sweet plugins, Two Notes Genome, Neural DSP Morgan, and Bogren One Knob plugins (super cool).
If I can add some more sleepers people might be interested in to Leon's list: It seems like the sweet spot for price + features=value is opening up again. I consider this to be about $800-1200 USD. If you buy used and are handy with a soldering iron and doing your own setup jobs on better quality hardware, I feel like there's a bit more available in this price range that people might be interested in than in previous years. One is the LTD AP4 bass, which comes in both a 4 and 5 string version. I got one for maybe $500 used and it had both original active EMG PJ pickups and a Babicz bridge stock. Both of those upgrades would probably be around $400 alone. There are also several great used 6 string basses on the market for those willing to take up a wider neck. I procured a purple Alvarez 6 string, and I rarely see the Alvarez name on basses period, let alone a 6. Dean Edges are also fairly good inexpensive six strings. Pre-Kiesel Carvin 6 string basses from the 90s and 00s are excellent and are going for about $1,000. There are more used deals of course, but if we're talking new retail models, I'm hoping we return one day to the features and price point of Charvel's 2008 Desolation line (mahogany neck thru/Seymour Duncan Blackouts/Floyd Rose 1000 bridge for about $800 in 2008, or about $1200 now). But definitely for those looking for a modestly priced active bass for metal, the LTD AP4 is a good choice (just wish it came with a maple fretboard). Pop in a 24 Volt Mod (assuming your tone controls are passive--18 volts max on most active EQs) and you are good to go. There's even a dedicated battery compartment the Mod will fit in. I'm also picking up stuff from the 80s and early 90s, including a BC Rich Gunslinger bass. Kramer Striker basses are also good modding platforms assuming the frets and neck are okay.
I am a little late to the party, but to me 2024 was the year I got into ToneX and other NAM / Tonocracy machine learning models. I did profile nearly all my Synergy modules and other custom preamps and it was quite fun. And also got into recording my IRs... Actually the cab/speaker/mic placement is so important and quite difficult to get right.. in the end I use mostly your LT IRs that I downloaded a few years back... still the best 'mix'! Thanks
For me it was the GX-10! For the amount of money I have to spend, it is easily the best value for money! Love the size, the ease of use, the quality and the processing power!👌
2024, the year of the semi? 😄 the Charles Cilia knocks it so far out of the park i think, not just stunning visuals but it sounds amazing to boot, your 335 makeover (refret/plek etc..) sticks out as well , there's still 29 days left of 2024, have a Harmony Silhouette coming in which may or may not be the one for this year (no pressure 😄)
Those slipped under my radar - played a few Harmony's in 2019 when i was in the states but forgot about them until now. Can't wait to see and hear what you do with it.
@@LeonTodd yeah same unfortunately, they've gone up in price since, but i got the 'offset itch' in the last months that no amount of cowbell could cure 😄,something about them ,Tele on steroids sort of vibe, should be good
So many to choose from, it’s incredible. I loved this episode. Any chance you can get your hands on more Diezel amps? It would be amazing if you could demo the VHX. So little on it
Great review, in relation to the BlueSky MX, I would love to hear your take on BlueSky MX vs H90. The most interesting and inspiring piece of gear i bought this year was a Balaguer Growler Select 30" (Jaguar-like shape) which sounds fantastic. I tuned it like an 8 strings (F#). I love the ethereal clean sound you can get with such a low tuning, and with only 6 strings as i'm not a fan of 7 or 8 strings it seems. Balaguer makes great guitars, manufactured in Korea. ... and a bit of Meshuggah style galop is quite fun too :D
I really got back into trying gear this year. Best Pedal: Protein Drive Favorite Guitars: Elliot Raven Shabat Lion Deluxe Fender Player II Tele Gibson 61 SG standard PRS Dustie Waring HT (bought) Best Amps: Friedman Plex Bogner Uberschall EL34 Rockerverb mkiii 100 SLO astro 20 Stuff I have bought and I am waiting on Ricardo T RS (custom specs) Ricardo (new product that hasn't been officially announced) Sloane Arcturus 50 Wishlist to try: MXR Wylde Trio of pedals Headfirst Alta 100 Bray Coco 50 Friedman SS 100 and JEL 50 Gibson custom shop 1963 SG special Charvel Warren DeMartini Snakeskin USA
@LeonTodd yep, Ricardo does a good job, visited his shop to test drive, he also has one of Grover Jackson's guys working with him on QC and wiring. He builds a lot of guitars but they rarely come up for sale second hand. Would reccomend trying one if you ever get the chance.
My favorite thing I got this year was a Charvel San Dimas with Floyd Rose. First Floyd I’ve had since the 80s. I put a Dimarzio Super Distortion in it and I’m having way too much fun playing through the Iron Maiden catalog. 😂👍
I picked up a ruby colored Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Gold Edition during Fender's Memorial Day website sale. I honestly got it for the novelty of a Strat with block inlays, but it plays great!
Man I tried so hard to like the black mountain volume pedal but it was just so unintuitive for my brain. I have to be able to easily and quickly manipulate volume without even looking at my pedal board and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't get the hang of it and just went back to my Korg XVP-20. I think for my acoustic shows where I'm usually sitting down, it would work but the korg gets the job done for that too and I rarely use it during acoustic. Anyways, for me, I had 2 pieces. the Lizzy Hale Explorerbird is easily one of the most impressive and inspiring guitars I've ever picked up and an absolute beast on stage and sounds enormous. The second piece is the Mark VII. I did a vid last week about meeting your hero gear and after owning a couple of studio preamps, a MarkIV and a Mark V, I've been chasing my dream Mesa tone for over a decade and thought I'd never get it and the VII just absolutely has blown me away. The notion of having to "dial it in" is just completely out the window. It literally sounds incredible everywhere and when incredible is your starting point... oh boy. It's been a game changer at shows too being able to just plug the amp straight into my OX stomp and have a flawless mesa or marshall DI signal on stage and not have to drag another case with a load box in it to shows is nice. I did a video just showing the DI sounds from the amp with a few different DI devices and actually used your TV7 IR and gave you a shout out LOL. Random question though, is it supposed to be a pretty low output IR? It's much quieter than my Ownhammer and ML Sound Lab IR's and the built in Mesa IR's.
Fair enough, that volume pedal is pretty unique and like any piece of gear it's never going to work for everyone. The Explorerbird is basically my favourite Gibson elements crammed into one so I'm super keen to try one at some point. With the IR there's a normalised version that should work better (500N) - www.patreon.com/posts/my-main-ir-lt-tv-91056054
SLO100R, X88IR, Soldano 212 snakeskin cab, Fractal VP4, Keeley Halo in Sweetwater special red. The VP4 has me thinking of selling the SDE3000, TC 2290p, Eventide Micro pitch and a few other pedals…..but I know I will buy most of them again next year 🤦🏼♂️😂 I bought the Mesa Fillmore 100 head and didn’t love it, I have had a Mkiii for 30 yrs and I think that is what I prefer, soooo I returned the Fillmore full value towards the SLO 100R. The SLO 100 was born from the Mesa Mk2b and I think that is why I prefer (love) it. 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻
It’s awesome. Think they redid the clean channel and made it a little cleaner. Volume/gain control for each channel with a master volume is perfect. Glad I waited. Surprised you did not add the VP4 to your list.
I just purchased the Boss DM-101. It is enroute but I'm hoping it will be worth the money. I'm not sure I would have ever bought it if it wasn't on sale, but it still took several days before I pulled the trigger.
Totally off topic, Leon, but what the heck do you use to stabilize the guitar when you play your videos? You don't wear a strap, and they always look solidly stuck in place. Are they just sitting on your left leg, or is there more at work here? As for 2024 gear, my tastes are mundane-- my new PRS S2 Custom 24 and Friedman IR-D are at the top of my list. Both are crazy good.
![Let's Talk About Fender Telecasters [And T-Shaped Objects £139 - £Thousands] - That Pedal Show](/img/n.gif)
What was your favourite piece of gear for 2024? New or old!
I sold a lot of things this year. But I have a massive Wet Dry Wet Rig and the stereo effects include Strymon Flint, Lex, Mobius, Timeline, 2 That's Right 2 2290p's, Boss SDE-3000d and EVH versions, and finally added the Eventide H90 this Year!! The Balance Era and Take the Van presets are a few of my Favorites and I have been working on a few Lukather presets as well. Other utility pieces this year are the Lehle P Split III and Boss NS-1X!
Empress heavy menace, your demo convinced me so cheers
2024 was the year I finally got an Axe Fx3 - and I'm blow away by it! I'm not new to modelers (been using a Helix with the band for years) but for recording I've always been a tube amp + effects kind of guy. After getting the Fractal unit I haven't even turned on my amps. Well, not entirely true, I did turn on my JCM800 once to see if I *really* could get that same tone with the Axe - so set up a preset which allowed me to A/B the amp in a loop with the model. Turns out I could.....
Stepped aboard the ToneX eco-system. Very satisfied and impressed, my expectations going in were set way too low. Great piece of kit.
Chase Bliss Clean :)
For lots of reasons I'm on a strict gear diet, so watching you get to work with all this wonderful stuff is a delicious source of vicarious pleasure. What a great year.
Hahahaha my channel is probably the equivalent of one of those BBQ channels where they're always cooking the rarest/most expensive/strangest meats.
Thanks for all your support too mate. Always look forward to your very balanced and nuanced takes on the gear :0
IMO, that Les Paul is the best sounding guitar I’ve ever heard on your channel. Those harmonics at 14:08 forward are nasty! Some serious mojo in that thing! 😍
The more I hear it the more I love it!
Bought my main guitar LTD EC-1000 early this year and recently got Keeley Super AT MOD overdrive. Best gear of the year.
Love what Keeley is doing
For myself, this year I went overboard and over my budget, but was able to acquire and flip couple of things to achieve what I really wanted.-Boss ir-2, S by solar V and the T Rex mud honey 2. And hopefully in 2025 I've been slowly saving to find my first Gibson Les Paul studio 🙏🤘🎸🤞
Love that gear list, sounds like a fun year for you!
I’m currently building a 7 string Gibson RD copy and that’s the best bit of gear for me in 2024.
The world needs more guitars and luthiers
Siiiiick! Send pics when done :D
A HUGE load of tasty playing and outstanding gear, sir! Extremely enjoyed))
I bought a Schecter Reaper 6 Elite in Deep Ocean Blue this year. Great guitar.
I still need a "real" SLO in my life! I love that you have the Prometheus in here too. Definitely my highlight with the LCFR-150 speaker. It's amazing how it can handle gobs of gain while retaining clarity.
Prometheus is such a great combination of instant gratification and tweakability. Dan is brilliant.
@@LeonTodd He sure is
My favorite thing I bought this year is my PRS Se DGT. First PRS and it’s amazing. Might get a core soon.
It's a beauty! Love the DGTs, best SE's IMO. The core's are something else again :p
I bought one last year, and it is great. We need more necks like that among affordable guitars!
This channel just gets me man!
I picked up a few things this year: a Tonex One set up to be a backup, Headrush Core which I'm really digging since they released an editor for it, IR-J, and a couple other things.
Gorgeous amp! Acquired a JCM 2000 TSL 60 and has the Plexi DNA
Great review Leon, that Soldano really suits you. My favorite gear of the year was stumbling upon the Softube Amp Room Marshall suite, I’ve been a Marshall tube amp guy forever and it really blew me away. For a guy who only has time to play at night when the kids are sleeping it’s a godsend
Having our all in one place is really nice hey
I bought a Fender Acoustasonic Player, and I'm really glad I did!
Got my 5150 head and cab and a black Jackson 7 String Flying V and MX 5
Very likely one of my favorites is the Crazy Tube Circuits Sidekick JR paired with the XT footswitch. Your and Pete Thorn's videos of it helped me make the decision and considering what you get, it's worth the price tag. I was on the lookout for a retro-flavored, straightforward multi-effects device and it really delivers. Thanks, dude. Very sweet tones combined with my purple SLO pedal. 😎
Great little pedal hey - absolutely zero feature bloat, straight to the point with the tones!
@@LeonTodd Hell yeah. What you see is what you get, more time for actual playing. Menu diving is for nerds!! 😝
This year I bought a new guitar. I got the PRS DW CE Hardtail 24 signature model of Dusty Waring. Absolute joy to play this guitar. I have not touched my other guitars since getting this one. It is super versatile and it is easy to play. You can get super clean tones to seriously face melting metal tones on this guitar. I run this through a Hughes & Kettner Grandmiester 40 Deluxe tube amp. The first few weeks I had it I went from playing twice a week to playing 6 days a week and I am now averaging 5 days a week! This guitar makes even the most simplest riffs sound awesome. This guitar really embodies playing leads silky smooth. I love it!
This is what it's all about folks!
Fractal VP4, which you were a big influence in my purchase . Right now, I'm running into the front of a Tonex pedal out to a Fryette Powerstation to a 212 Mojotone cab with neo creambacks. Had an HX Effects and still have 2 Hx ones. One thing I noticed is the line 6 units drives don't sound good in front of a clean preset on the Tonex, but thE VP 4 really lights them up. A huge Thank You for influencing me in the right direction.
Awesome rig! May it bring a lifetime of glorious tones :D
Pedal standouts this year were Boss SDE-3000EVH, CTC White Whale v2, and pretty much everything PastFX did, but especially the Mischief. Amps, I got a Laney L5 Studio head which has been fun to play, great tones at manageable volume. Guitars, just got a pink paisley tele from artist guitars; crazy specs for the price…neck is very good and SS frets which I prefer.
Hope you’ll continue having fun with your gear Leon. Excellent videos again this year!
Still don't know how Artist or out guitars that good for so cheap
@@LeonToddWell I had to return the first one because of bad neck issues and some bad blems QC shouldn’t have missed, so I guess they can be a bit hit and miss, but Artist have great returns service. They also don’t have great sounding tele pups, but they’re decent. They also don’t have any treble bleed circuit which means the volume knob isn’t very useful. Need a volume pedal.
Hey Leon... Love to see what everyone plays with.. especially you this will be good to see what you've had and have to play besides the unbelievable fractal.. ... Amazing stuff ... Take care and keep playing mate.. 🌏 😺 🌏 your ship should be coming in soon .. it's name is Music.. been listening to Cros Stills Browne and Profit lately .. impressed with that tele surfer sound and the fender mate.. 🥂..ps. sure would be hard to pick just one guitar of yours
The cats are number one :D
Yeah bro that Soldano has caught my ear. Hmm, I'll be taking a closer look at that piece. X88 ? Epic!
For me, including gear that came out before 2024, it's:
- BOSS IR-2
- Eventide Tricerachorus/Micropitch
- Source Audio Collider
- Squier Contemp. Strat HH FR (with EMG SL20 loaded pickguard)
Good video buddy really liked the Les Paul and 335 guitars and licks. Sounded great. Take care 😎👍✌️🎸. Just bought an Esp 1000 with Emg active pickups. Love it 😊
EMG's are always a classic pick.
The Electro Harmonix Oceans 12!
This channel RULES! Leon rips on guitar. Good stuff, my brother.
Glad you dig the channel man!
My best purchase of the year was a custom Tom Anderson Angel 24.75 scale guitar. It is a great guitar. Honorable mention to the Fryette 2/90/2 power amp that I picked up used for an impossible to beat price.
Anderson 😍
Thanks for the video. You show a lot of stuff I just cannot afford to get all of it. You make me go after sometimes 1 piece of gear I would actually use and not just collect dust. I think my favorite piece of gear I got this year was actually a mixer. I bought the ZOOM L-20, still learning a few things on it. But it can do so much in studio and live. Studio only so far. But loving it.
Utility devices make their money back so many times over with the amount of use they get!
My favorite gear from this year, Crazy Tube Circuits Unobtanium, Wampler Andy Wood Gearbox, Driftwood Purple Nightmare Tube Preamp Pedals (filthy), and Friedman IR-J Jake E Lee Tube Preamp Pedal. Also shoutout to some sweet plugins, Two Notes Genome, Neural DSP Morgan, and Bogren One Knob plugins (super cool).
That's a great list! It's awesome to see the variety of great gear out there.
If I can add some more sleepers people might be interested in to Leon's list:
It seems like the sweet spot for price + features=value is opening up again. I consider this to be about $800-1200 USD.
If you buy used and are handy with a soldering iron and doing your own setup jobs on better quality hardware, I feel like there's a bit more available in this price range that people might be interested in than in previous years.
One is the LTD AP4 bass, which comes in both a 4 and 5 string version. I got one for maybe $500 used and it had both original active EMG PJ pickups and a Babicz bridge stock. Both of those upgrades would probably be around $400 alone.
There are also several great used 6 string basses on the market for those willing to take up a wider neck. I procured a purple Alvarez 6 string, and I rarely see the Alvarez name on basses period, let alone a 6. Dean Edges are also fairly good inexpensive six strings. Pre-Kiesel Carvin 6 string basses from the 90s and 00s are excellent and are going for about $1,000.
There are more used deals of course, but if we're talking new retail models, I'm hoping we return one day to the features and price point of Charvel's 2008 Desolation line (mahogany neck thru/Seymour Duncan Blackouts/Floyd Rose 1000 bridge for about $800 in 2008, or about $1200 now).
But definitely for those looking for a modestly priced active bass for metal, the LTD AP4 is a good choice (just wish it came with a maple fretboard). Pop in a 24 Volt Mod (assuming your tone controls are passive--18 volts max on most active EQs) and you are good to go. There's even a dedicated battery compartment the Mod will fit in.
I'm also picking up stuff from the 80s and early 90s, including a BC Rich Gunslinger bass. Kramer Striker basses are also good modding platforms assuming the frets and neck are okay.
I am a little late to the party, but to me 2024 was the year I got into ToneX and other NAM / Tonocracy machine learning models. I did profile nearly all my Synergy modules and other custom preamps and it was quite fun. And also got into recording my IRs... Actually the cab/speaker/mic placement is so important and quite difficult to get right.. in the end I use mostly your LT IRs that I downloaded a few years back... still the best 'mix'! Thanks
It's amazing how much tone is in those IRs. A lot of time and effort to make them sound good!
Soldano X88-IR for the win!
My pick of all your Axes is the ox blood 335 ..
It's a beauty hey!
Great video. I feel the fm3 9.0 Update deserve a Spot. It was really a major Update
Oh yeah, good shout! I should probably do a video recapping this year's big FAS updates :p
For me it was the GX-10! For the amount of money I have to spend, it is easily the best value for money! Love the size, the ease of use, the quality and the processing power!👌
Yeah, those compact multi-effects are really game changers.
Yes! Just got mine a few days ago. After a few tweaks to suit my equipment it sounds killer on both guitar and bass!
I gotta say your Les Paul through the modded Marshall is next level epic. 🔥
Pretty, pretty, prettaaaaay good.
2024, the year of the semi? 😄 the Charles Cilia knocks it so far out of the park i think, not just stunning visuals but it sounds amazing to boot, your 335 makeover (refret/plek etc..) sticks out as well , there's still 29 days left of 2024, have a Harmony Silhouette coming in which may or may not be the one for this year (no pressure 😄)
Those slipped under my radar - played a few Harmony's in 2019 when i was in the states but forgot about them until now. Can't wait to see and hear what you do with it.
@@LeonTodd yeah same unfortunately, they've gone up in price since, but i got the 'offset itch' in the last months that no amount of cowbell could cure 😄,something about them ,Tele on steroids sort of vibe, should be good
So many to choose from, it’s incredible. I loved this episode. Any chance you can get your hands on more Diezel amps? It would be amazing if you could demo the VHX. So little on it
I used to know the guy who was bringing Diezel in to Australia but he's either stopped or closed up. VHX looks like a monster.
Great review, in relation to the BlueSky MX, I would love to hear your take on BlueSky MX vs H90.
The most interesting and inspiring piece of gear i bought this year was a Balaguer Growler Select 30" (Jaguar-like shape) which sounds fantastic. I tuned it like an 8 strings (F#). I love the ethereal clean sound you can get with such a low tuning, and with only 6 strings as i'm not a fan of 7 or 8 strings it seems. Balaguer makes great guitars, manufactured in Korea.
... and a bit of Meshuggah style galop is quite fun too :D
Long scale guitars are awesome hey! Such a unique tone
I really got back into trying gear this year.
Best Pedal:
Protein Drive
Favorite Guitars:
Elliot Raven
Shabat Lion Deluxe
Fender Player II Tele
Gibson 61 SG standard
PRS Dustie Waring HT (bought)
Best Amps:
Friedman Plex
Bogner Uberschall EL34
Rockerverb mkiii 100
SLO astro 20
Stuff I have bought and I am waiting on
Ricardo T RS (custom specs)
Ricardo (new product that hasn't been officially announced)
Sloane Arcturus 50
Wishlist to try:
MXR Wylde Trio of pedals
Headfirst Alta 100
Bray Coco 50
Friedman SS 100 and JEL 50
Gibson custom shop 1963 SG special
Charvel Warren DeMartini Snakeskin USA
Hadn't seen the Ricardo Guitars before - really interesting specs and prices look super good!
@LeonTodd yep, Ricardo does a good job, visited his shop to test drive, he also has one of Grover Jackson's guys working with him on QC and wiring. He builds a lot of guitars but they rarely come up for sale second hand. Would reccomend trying one if you ever get the chance.
x88-IR, Octa Psi, and VP4 for me. Great time to be a geetar player. 💪
Octa psi looks and sounds ridiculous! Can't wait to try one.
My favorite thing I got this year was a Charvel San Dimas with Floyd Rose. First Floyd I’ve had since the 80s. I put a Dimarzio Super Distortion in it and I’m having way too much fun playing through the Iron Maiden catalog. 😂👍
Great guitars!
I picked up a ruby colored Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Gold Edition during Fender's Memorial Day website sale. I honestly got it for the novelty of a Strat with block inlays, but it plays great!
Oooh those look fun!
Man I tried so hard to like the black mountain volume pedal but it was just so unintuitive for my brain. I have to be able to easily and quickly manipulate volume without even looking at my pedal board and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't get the hang of it and just went back to my Korg XVP-20. I think for my acoustic shows where I'm usually sitting down, it would work but the korg gets the job done for that too and I rarely use it during acoustic.
Anyways, for me, I had 2 pieces. the Lizzy Hale Explorerbird is easily one of the most impressive and inspiring guitars I've ever picked up and an absolute beast on stage and sounds enormous.
The second piece is the Mark VII. I did a vid last week about meeting your hero gear and after owning a couple of studio preamps, a MarkIV and a Mark V, I've been chasing my dream Mesa tone for over a decade and thought I'd never get it and the VII just absolutely has blown me away. The notion of having to "dial it in" is just completely out the window. It literally sounds incredible everywhere and when incredible is your starting point... oh boy. It's been a game changer at shows too being able to just plug the amp straight into my OX stomp and have a flawless mesa or marshall DI signal on stage and not have to drag another case with a load box in it to shows is nice.
I did a video just showing the DI sounds from the amp with a few different DI devices and actually used your TV7 IR and gave you a shout out LOL. Random question though, is it supposed to be a pretty low output IR? It's much quieter than my Ownhammer and ML Sound Lab IR's and the built in Mesa IR's.
Fair enough, that volume pedal is pretty unique and like any piece of gear it's never going to work for everyone.
The Explorerbird is basically my favourite Gibson elements crammed into one so I'm super keen to try one at some point.
With the IR there's a normalised version that should work better (500N) - www.patreon.com/posts/my-main-ir-lt-tv-91056054
I didn’t buy them, but I agree that the Friedman jake pedal and soldano’s new x-88ir would be my best-of picks….
Headfirst amplification
Evil Joe.🤘
😍😍😍
SLO100R, X88IR, Soldano 212 snakeskin cab, Fractal VP4, Keeley Halo in Sweetwater special red. The VP4 has me thinking of selling the SDE3000, TC 2290p, Eventide Micro pitch and a few other pedals…..but I know I will buy most of them again next year 🤦🏼♂️😂 I bought the Mesa Fillmore 100 head and didn’t love it, I have had a Mkiii for 30 yrs and I think that is what I prefer, soooo I returned the Fillmore full value towards the SLO 100R. The SLO 100 was born from the Mesa Mk2b and I think that is why I prefer (love) it. 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻
Hahaha when it's easier to just not sell it because you'll know you'll re-buy it!
How's the rack SLO?
It’s awesome. Think they redid the clean channel and made it a little cleaner. Volume/gain control for each channel with a master volume is perfect. Glad I waited.
Surprised you did not add the VP4 to your list.
I got an Epiphone 79 Silverburst and a Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster , the white one, seriously impressive guitars.
That might be the best Epi to date IMO, played one recently and it felt amazing
Just bought A pair of Adams studio monitors and also the Headrush mx5 and some new tubes for my Laney Gh50R :)
That's a great mix of gear! You're gonna love it!
Cilia for the win!
An absolute masterpiece
Sully Guitars Conspiracy Series, specifically a Stardust model
I just purchased the Boss DM-101. It is enroute but I'm hoping it will be worth the money. I'm not sure I would have ever bought it if it wasn't on sale, but it still took several days before I pulled the trigger.
It's a pretty good one, you did well!
I'm going with the IR-J by Friedman. It just sounds so good.
Love it.
so impressed by the riff at 4:22...somebody knows the name of that song?
Ragdoll - Heaven Above
@@LeonTodd Cool, many thanks! And I found your turorial ;).
All the best!
The Alabs Cetus Reverb Pedal but can't find one anywhere.
Thanks Leon, great overview. The stone burner does sound obscene, doesn't it lol
It really is a wild sound!
Twin Trem by Jackson Audio, gets me Peter Buck on one side and Jimmy Page on the other.
Definitely missed a good opportunity for some novelty footwear on the volume pedal demo…stilettos, clown shoes 😂😂
I seriously thought about cat paws!
Totally off topic, Leon, but what the heck do you use to stabilize the guitar when you play your videos? You don't wear a strap, and they always look solidly stuck in place. Are they just sitting on your left leg, or is there more at work here? As for 2024 gear, my tastes are mundane-- my new PRS S2 Custom 24 and Friedman IR-D are at the top of my list. Both are crazy good.
Just resting on my left leg - th-cam.com/video/yibbrqATv7Y/w-d-xo.html
Has there ever been a guitar pedal as exciting or as powerful as the VP4?
Sky is the limit with it!
@@LeonTodd Like that Ragdoll song!
Currently on a hunt for Epi Jerry Cantrell Wino LP Custom. Anyone got one? Please share some expirience!
They look great!
Mr. Todd, your TH-cam channel is the best. Boss DC-2W Dimension C
Vs. Eventide TriceraChorus?
Where will you hard earned bucks go?
If you want chorus that's a little more understated and more of an enhancer, DC-2. If you want THE 80's in a pedal, Eventide.
I think that Gibson Les Paul Custom is your best sounding guitar. It has more growl and bite than anything else in your arsenal.
Yep I got lucky with that one!
For me Keeley Octa Psi was pedal of the year
ToneX
Op amp big muff... straight money
I want you to show that Firebird you have hanging up behind you.
You'll enjoy this then th-cam.com/video/02ar76JfniY/w-d-xo.html
ToneX was mine
🤘🏼
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So much emphasis on high gain. High gain is boring.
Different strokes for different blokes