I have a cheap ( inexpensive ) guitar and cheap ( inexpensive ) amp . I also have cheap ( old ) ears . My audience is the kids , grandkids .and a few friends...So far nobody has complained about my tone when I wail out some amazing cowboy chords ( well once my sweetie pie asked me if I could turn it down a bit )...All in all we all seem to be happy and have some fun singalongs ...👍😎🎸
Totally agree Brian. Chasing gear is something I have also been guilty of which has inadvertently slowed down my improvement as a player. I always wanted that great tone and thought that a big tube amp and boutique pedals the way to go. Since I found Active Melody I have realised that the music comes from my fingers and not my wallet. Now I'm perfectly happy with my super portable Yamaha THR and can get some great sounds within seconds of switching on the amp. I wish I could have told this to myself years ago.
This stuff is so important, the things you teach me are a real help and things I would not even think of. The close up on the panel and the way you explain it makes it nice and clear to me about how I can get a better sound and concentrate more on the playing. Thanks again.
I’ve been buying pedals to get the right sound I want but after watching this I thought I’d experiment. I’ve never really played with pre-gain before so lo and behold when I started fiddling and there was the sound I’ve been looking for. No pedals nothing. Thanks.
I’m a Active Melody member! After taking similar path as you mentioned - chasing great gear - I too realized learning how and what to play along with practice to develop muscle memory is the secret. I will admit however; I’m not as successful as you on dialing in the full sounding tone with grit and sustain. On an amp. So I bought a Kemper. It has helped me and now I mostly work on playing and having fun😀. Thx for taking the time for this. I also hav a Katana 112 and will experiment to see what I can achieve using your technique 👍 vr, Mike
My everyday home amp- 5 watt Marshall (DSL5CR). A fantastic little amp! Has a really nice clean channel and a gain channel that goes from a sweet crunch to nice overdrive and if you desire, total saturation.
I absolutely agree with you Brain. Don't go chasing gear but focus more on playing. Something I did to long! I wanted a tube amp instead of my Fender Mustang 3 v2 amp, but realized that the Fender is the best choice for my situation and that is just playing at home. I spended to many time on finding a suitable tube amp and after a while realizing that I already have a good amp. Just tweak some settings on your amp and eventually you will find the right sound that you like.
Thanks for your stick-to-it-iveness! This exact Crate XT15R is the only amp I've ever owned in my 20 years of guitar playing, and while I always thought the OD channel sounded muddy, I've come to really appreciate it at lower gain.
Thanks this video was right on time I've been playing for six months I'm 43 and I'm in the rabbit hole trying to figure out how to get the sound I hear everyone playing on you tube .
I couldn't agree more with everything you said! I don't even have an amp except for a mini Katana that I mostly use as a speaker to my Macbook with Garageband, lol. Always great advice, Brian, you're my hero :)
I enjoy your instructional videos and the ones like these, with no-nonsense, down-to-earth information for folks at all levels of playing and budgets. I’m there with you, I have a Blackstar ID Core 10 amp and a Squier Strat Deluxe. Again, this is very helpful stuff you’ve presented here 👍🏻
That's amazing you have the exact guitar (Kay) that was my first guitar 55 years ago. Mine was used when I got it and it was stuffed with old newspapers. Right on brother.
My first rig from when I picked the guitar back up ten years ago was an american peavey predator strat and a mia peavey bandit redstripe that I picked up for 180 bucks altogether. Ive been all around the gear world cuz of youtube ever since. Tube amps, pedals and guitars have rolled in and out of my house for 10 years. A month ago I said to heck with it and got another red stripe bandit with no pedals and my strat with a 2014 gibson melody maker with 2 p90s. It all sounds great to my ears. If something sounds better, I can't tell so who cares 😆.
I like the Kay Value Leader. I've had one for about 8 years, and it is fun to play because it has a honking kind of growl that borders on feedback, but you can control it. What a fun guitar. Probably great for slide. Mine's a keeper.
I started on a crate amp and it was a good tone because I played that same guitar and amp for six years straight for so many hours a day that I learned my how my guitar behaved and learned to play my amp.
I agree 100%, Marketing is strong. I gave my brother my JCM 800 100watt combo because i don't have a venue to use that much power and i don't have rodies to lug it arround for me. I know a bloke who has a JCM 800 Mashall stack, I told him i bet that thing never left your house, He never replied. Just because you have the biggest stuff don't mean everyones going to travel to your place to gig. Ive decided to now go accoustic mostly but i did recently by a 100 watt Fender Mustang 3 modling amp which is light and compact and has more capabilities then i could ever get around to using. Enough amps and cabnets to load a semi trailer if they was the real physical deal. Ill run out of ideas before it will capabilites put it that way. Alot of players are impressed with this modeling amp saying Fender got this one right. Its amazing how someone with a $3,000+ Fender or Gibson and a $2000+ amp needs to have 10 pedals to seek that tone. I think buying gear is an addiction for many.
One of the other members of AM recommended this to me and it is very helpful. I have a beautiful American Professional Telecaster with 2 humbuckers and a Fender GTX50 amp. I think the amp gives me too many choices for someone not as familiar with gear. Thanks, CC
I have one guitar and one amp: a fender mim player series stratocaster ( a great guitar for the price ) and I just bought a Tone king gremlin 5 watt amp. The tone king is a boutique amp so it's pretty expensive but I intend to use that amp and no other for years and years to come so I'm okay with spending that amount of money. I only have a boss sd1 superoverdrive pedal that I use to boost my already overdriven amp if needed. I'm a minimalist kind of guy so my setup works out great for me and having just two knobs and two channels on my amp really alows me to control my sound. Thanks for this video Brian, I really dig this new format of yours!
I couldn't agree more. I've chased the "elusive" tone in my head for years. In that time I've accumulated boutiques tube amps, Kemper, Eleven Rack, Helix and a large collection of pedals. In the end, it was as you said Brian, I ended up with the same basic tone I heard in my head. Now I concentrate on my technique and have much more my joy in playing the guitar.
Love your videos - they ARE going to help me to take on the challenge of adding to my playing (from singer songwriter on an Yamaha FG800 - one of the best sounding acoustics for around $200) to also playing lead in the Sunday jam I have organized at my home on either my Squier Thinline Telecaster or ( just bought) new Squier Stratocaster from Amazon for just ( $119). I plan to play the electrics ( low volume) through my Berringer ACX450 Acoustic Amp. Here I go into new territory! Brian Gardner - Las Vegas
Thanks Brian. I've got a 1989 Squier strat made in korea and a small Marshall MG series 15 DFX amp. I've had these for years. I recently up graded the strat with all new good quality components, pots, switches and input jack. To me it sounds amazing, an incredible difference. It sounds like a new guitar. I definitely agree that skills are paramount but if you are happy with your guitar and sound it helps.
I've been using a Strymon Iridium pedal as my 'amp' recently and love its simplicity for the exact reasons you mentioned. It's all too easy to get lost in the hunt for the perfect tone and have this lead to frustration with your playing. The best thing I ever did for my tone was focus on my picking hand, rather than just my fretting hand. Picking dynamics, mastering techniques such as the rake and more picking dynamics! Made all the difference to my tone and far more than any guitar, amp or pedal ever has.
Thanks, Brian for another informative video. Presently, I'm playing on a Squire Strat and an Epiphone Sheridan II through a Fender Frontman. Still a beginner so I'm constantly trying for a better sound as I learn the technics for playing on six strings.
Brian - enjoyed your demo. My guitar is a 1963 Epiphone Olympic with bridge only Melody Maker single coil pickup. My amp is a Fender Mustang III solid state modeling amp with a 100 watt CELEST speaker. Typically Fender solid states are not very good, but I think they got it right with this unit. I can model vintage Fender and Vox amps and it sounds like the tube amps. I have had it now four years and I only paid $400.
I feel ya in saying that you end up sounding the same. I’ve changed gear in the past and always end up sounding like me. Other guitarists play through my rig and sound completely different. It’s fascinating and frustrating all at the same time
I have a lot of guitars and 4 amps, but I always seem to use the cheaper guitars and amps when I play at home... Probably because that's what I learned on, and it's what I hear in my head. Good video! You don't need expensive gear to make great music.
Very handy advice! I have a Mesa Boogie Lonestar Special 2 x 12 and while it’s a great Amp I have just never been able to dial in the tone I’m after! (it’s me not the amp) PS I just joined as a premium member and hands down it’s the best decision I’ve made in over 40 years of playing guitar! Thank you Brian 🙏🏼 😎🎸
You are precisely correct. I have a houseful of gear including some really cheap solid state amps. These are usually sold for nothing at yard sales. The owners don't understand, since being new to the activity, how to dial in the thing. They are usually sold with the cheapest speaker available. The amp portion is usually ok. I have several 12" common speakers from audio equipment and used amps. They run used for $5-20.00 usd. They transform the cheapest amp into somthing really good to great. I never record, gig or noodle with less than 12". Just DO NOT use a speaker with lower impedance (ohms) than the original speaker. And only use one correct speaker! Also, many times the musicality requiers the guitar to have LESS sustain. I always aim for the least sustain I can get away with for any style play. It makes note clarity much better and prevents unwanted note run on. Thanks!
Again what a great teacher so glad I subscribed to your premium membership thank you so much for what you do you have helped me reach goals already in the short time I have been introduced to you .
I’ve got a Ibanez rg470 HSH that’s 11 years old plays an works great and the amp I have is a Peavey Nashville 400 with the original 15 inch black widow speaker. I got it from my father in law when he died. The amp is a petal steel or a steel guitar amp but it works great and it’s all I can afford. I’m thinking it was made in the mid 80s and it’s really really LOUD I mean break yer teeth loud but at low volume it rings crystal clear. I love it
Hi Brian, I bought a Joyo Bluejay which is a valve amp hybrid with a Bluetooth interface. Clean tone, with a bright switch. If anyone wants a budget valve setup that can plug into any aux speaker I highly recommend it. Nice that I can play Activemelodies tracks via the Bluetooth connection too. Easily runs any 12inch cabinet too. Big Bang for the buck. Add one distortion pedal to that and you arguably have a small monster on your hands.
I use a Boss Katana 100 because of all different effects. Dont need to buy any pedals. Just like you said, I had a lightbulb moment a few years back when I dialed down the gain. Before that I had exclusively played accoustic because I never liked my amped up sound. Now I'm making up for lost time with the Katana. Thanks for video.
I'm a huge Lonnie Johnson fan !! I own a few different guitar types, but I keep coming back to a simple Telecaster with a Fender amp. Lots of knobs, lots of different sounds. Slainte !
Agree with everything unsaid. I have few nice amps . Fender blues deviled , old fender chorus. The amp I play thru the most is an old Yamaha I bought used for 40 bucks in college. It makes my les Paul sound huge lol
For me, the equipment I use effects my mood and style of playing, it's weird, like when you finally get an instrument that instantly you know, it's yours,bit fits, and you get almost infinite inspiration, kinda like that. It's hard to describe, but, I've actually played some students instruments, using their equipment, and sometimes it's hideous stuff, but it forced me to fit that sound, and it changes the way I normally play. Then, later, I would set up my equipment to try to get that sound, but better. It's opened up worlds of inspiration for me, and has shown me, my equipment is also capable of stuff you never even dreamed of. Now, I sometimes spend hrs honing in some unimaginable sounds. I don't know if I've explained that good enough. But thanks for sharing your journey and knowledge here, with everyone. Music is very personal, and we all should share, I think if we did, the world would be a better place.....ohh gosh, there I go...
I have a Boss Katana MkII 50, Squier Bullet Strat and Squier Affinity Telecaster with 2 humbuckers. Watched a lot of videos about the amp. The guitars are cheap but something to learn on right now. Now I need to signup for your site so I can learn some blues guitar.
Over a 8 year period I acquired around 25 pedals & power brick - some quite expensive (Strymon etc). This year I sold them all. I cant tell you how much better I feel without them wasting my time. (Mind, I did buy a line 6 Helix floor instead! Ace:-)
Same here 5 yrs. of chasing the tone in my head, sold my amps and pedals. I have one tube amp a Blackstar studio 10, which I don’t use that much, since I bought the helix floor and power cab plus almost a year ago, best purchase I made.
Like most of the posts here I can say I really enjoy and value these new videos as an added benefit to my subscription. As to gear, I am guilty as charged! Although I do faithfully practice at least an hour every day. Working my way to 10,000 hours! I have a variety of amps and guitars both electric and acoustic. The variety of your lessons lets me use them all! As for an amp though, my main amp is a Quilter Micro pro 20. It is a great little amp and I challenge myself to match your Kemper tones when you have a lesson so I have learned a bit that way also. I also have an outstanding Victoria amp that is a 15 watt tube amp. I need to use your method to see if I can get a little better on that amp. Keep the videos coming Brian.
I have a Memphis (brazilian branded chinese made) stratocaster and a 30w cheap amp, gotta say, it sounds really good, and it will sound even better thanks to this vid, thanks!
I have a Fender Champion 20, a Squier Bullet Telecaster, and an Ibanez semi-hollow. I just picked up an inexpensive overdrive pedal, which has been kinda fun.
I have a '72 pre-ibanez Raven Strat copy, and a Esquier Fender Thinline Tele and a ASAT Thinline Tele, which I play through my Fender 25R Frontman with a Legend 1058 75w. Speaker upgrade and I also have a Fender Hotrod Deluxe 1x12". I'm happy with the sounds I can get with these...
If I'd known what you have just said about 25 years ago Brian I'd be quite wealthy now, instead of many thousands of dollars spent and wasted on gear over the years. Anyway, great advice is never too late. Now finally settled with a very basic Fender Chris Stapleton Princeton and Fender 63 Reverb tank. Just a volume and tone control and built in tremolo. With your excellent lessons I can also enjoy my playing very much.
I've got a Gretsch Streamliner and a Vox AC10. Occasionally, I plug in my Epiphone J200 acoustic. I've got a couple pedals, but haven't used them in years.
Hi, because you asked: my amp is a Roland blues cube which is perfect for me, I like the gritty sound of it, always just a tiny bit of gain and reverb, treble way lo, mids and bass @12h. Nice thing is the USB output. I have 2 guitars, my burnt orange Gretsch and a Yamaha Silent Guitar (nylon strings).
I mostly just play at home, i use a Marshall code 100 , i also use a digitech 355 , sometimes i use my fender frontman 212 , abd a boss me 25 , line 6 delay pedal , boss cs3 compressor, I’ve been playing guitar since 1962 , play 60s rock , country , ventures style, chet atkins, I’m still looking for better tones, I’m still learning to play, music is a never ending puzzle.
I have to admit that I've recently begun using a Positive Grid Spark, which for all the hype, seems to deliver a lot great tone -- even without the thousands of online options. Add the online menu of pedals and amps, and you'll never be at a loss for unique tones.
Very true Brian..Over the years I ended up realising the same..whichever amp I used I ended up with the same sound..near as damn it. Back in my early years there weren't as many amp choices as there are today..I used a Marshall back then... Practice amps weren't too good bye and large..at least not the ones I had access to. Pedals..? Again not the plethera of those we have today either, and it wasn't always easy to get them. No internet to order from so it was a long trip to a bigger music shop for any pedals you could get..and other stuff. I probably said this before but my first amp was me record player..which was a decent bit of kit with decent speakers. So you had to learn how to pull the tones from the guitar/s you had and work with the amp/s and a pedal or 3 you had. I think these days many new or newish to guitar tend toward relying on pedals and the amp far too much. As the saying goes, the tell for a good player is how well you can play an acoustic..unplugged. No amp, no pedals, no vol and tone knobs..just the guitar and you. I found out the truth in that first time I played an acoustic..It didn't go too well. Once I got the hang of it,got a feel for it, I did find my electric playing improved.
Thank you for this video. My guitars are a MIM Strat, Gibson SG and Harmony H80T played though a Fender Blues Jr. someone gave me a list of “settings” I would be happy to share. That being said i have been playing with a reverb 3 Master 3 Mid 6 Bass 4 Treble 10 Fat Out Vol 5. I do own a few pedals: tuner, Big Muff, and TS
Man I found your video and it has gave me some hope ,cause I'm doing what you said chasing gear .. I got different guitars and even a marshall stack but still cant get the sound I'm wanting
Thanks for this video, I am seeing a lot of people talking about their gear. I have always kind of thought that the gear is not so important as the music. I think of it more like a tool (as Tab Benoit also once said, and he by the way, plays always straight from the amp. No pedals.). I stick with my Mexican strat and my mustang gt40. This is my setup, and it will stay like that for a quite some time.
Yeah....very helpful. I've got a cheap Monoprice tube amp.....turning up the guitar volume full and then backing off a little first, made all the difference. This sounds good now!
@@stephenhanlin2388 no idea, but it's been great for me. Absolutely no complaints. I just did not have me guitar volume high enough. That was the magic trick.
Thanks for sharing this. I have import guitars, cheap, cheap ones. A cheap TDA7297 amp board of ebay, unbranded, and a Zoom G1xon, and it's possible to get a lot of different tones. And of course, the way you play affects everything else. That's for sure. For headphone amp, I have a Nice gp-1, very cheap as well. And don't forget the speakers, which are very very very important too. I have taken mines from my old car. Two of 4 ohm that I connected in series to get 8 ohm of impedance.
Simple, old and raw. Killer! If that's what you want. Great for vintage style delta blues. I like it. The Kay was cheap when it was new. Now it's considered "vintage" and it's selling for 6 times the original price.
As always, very good advice Brian. It can be a minefield trying to get a good sound out of your amp and I think you are right, you should just focus on your playing and use your ears to adjust to get your own tone as it’s Different for everyone and so many factors can influence your sound. With that said, I do find it really interesting how guitar players “dial in” their time from the amps, Especially some of the more “spacey” sounds like you have got in a couple of your lessons. Personally at the moment I don’t think you can go far wrong with a Boss Katana. I think that they are one of the best amps out there on the market at the moment at really affordable prices.
Yes, I use the BOSS Katana version one with a four channel foot switch so I can access four of my personally programmed sounds or even sounds that I have downloaded for free through the BOSS editing sweet, and right now as a student of guitar I don't need a anything else. Even as I step up to performing and jamming with others I believe this Katana will get me deep into that
Yes Brian I agree I have spent a fortune on guitars and amps, I have had them all , at the moment I have a blues junior for my electric and for my acoustics I have a Boss acoustic singer live , and there not cheap guitars I am putting through them electric is fender roadhouse , acoustic Martin ooo28ec which I mic up , and martin x series with a pickup in it .Looking for that sound is like trying to find the holy grail .but you are right I might be going over the top with stuff ,any way thanks for the advice . PS if some body showed me how to use a pick might help . haha .
Love this vid and topic. I started out doing exactly what you said....trying to get the best amps and guitars only to later realize that I should really just keep it simple. As of right now my two favorite amp are my Katana MKII 50 and Fender Frontman 25R which is perfect for my music room. The other two...a Fender Mustang VII which isn't bad and a Line 6 Hd 150watt Head with 4x12 cab....haven't touch either of them in over a year cuz I'm just enjoying clean sounds with a bit of Tube screamer lately. Like you said it's all about playing first!🤘🎼🎸
tone and overall sound also depends on how you play guitar, how your fingers attack the strings and so on. i remember going to a blues jam years ago and the guy who was running the jam was playing his strat on a cheap old amp and he sounded okay but then a guy from the audience got up and played the same guitar, same amp and so on but sounded completely different from the jam's host. physical dynamics are key.
My go to setup is a fender tweed princeton copy (a head and cabinet) with a squire telecaster. Add a Boss Blues Driver and cheap reverb pedal and I am go to go. I have much more expensive setups but I much prefer my cheap rig.
Good tips! I too have found I can get a useable sound out of most any amp. In ones early learning stage you are likely to sound just as bad on an expensive amp as a cheap one...lol! Seriously...think about it. It's all about experience with many different scenarios and amps. Just keep experimenting and practicing until you find your niche.
Hello I just watched your vid. Thanks for the info you cleared up a lot of thinga for me. I get so confused sometimes because there is so much technology out there it is hard to know how to use it all. I have recently built a collection of cheap guitar amps and guitars because I cant afford name brand stuff. my cheapest guitar is a “Glarry” Chinese knock off of a Stratocaster. it plays good enough for me. My amps are a Monoprice Stage Right 15watt tube amp, a Spark 40 watt digital amp and a 40 watt Peavy Vyper digital modeling amp. The only name brand guitars I own are an Epiphone Les Paul an Ibanez acoustic electric classical and 2 Ibanez Basses.
Brian, thanks, you probably saved me a great deal of money :), I would agree with the another comment the Boss Katana is a excellent sounding amp at a very reasonable cost. I would think anyone looking for a solidstate amp should give it a hard look. Have you tried one?
I think it's wise to research your gear, if you really are chasing a tone. But essentially nab the gear to get you started, vs waiting for the right gear to even begin. I loved my original Yamaha cheapo but I really found my sound when I bought a Red Special. Knife edge bridges can be finicky if you're a heavy handed player but the amount of vibrato you can achieve with slight wrist pressure on them is insane.
Good advice, Brian. Thanks. I'm using a Fender Mustang LT 25 1x8" 25-watt Combo Amp. But first I run the guitar signal through a Boss BD-2 Blues Driver pedal (which you recommended years ago on active melody) with the gain set at about 40%. CharleyDelta
Hey Brian, great video! A.M. user here, and was hoping you might be able to put up tabs or do a video on the song you played at 1:40 into the video. I feel it ties into some of your recent vids about noodling and "playing something" if you could even include the little runs you did later in the video, that would be great! And if it already exists somewhere, just point me to the E.P.
I ran an ad on Craig's List for a cheap guitar I got in a trade. A young guy came out to try it but he couldn't really play yet. So I demoed it for him, and he decided it would suit him. He then asked if I knew anyone who was selling a Dumble amp! I explained the hand made, extremely rare, $100,000 thing to him as gently as I could. He was disappointed since his hero John Mayer played thru one! I suggested a Blues Jr. and said before he got to be my age he would buy several more amps and eventually know what to expect of one.
Playing a 77 Fender deluxe reverb that sounds muddy, a newer fender Deluxe, no gain, just volume . Struggle to get sustain and blues sound. Maybe need to turn amp up and turn guitar down? Play softly for clean and harder for distortion? Also have a Vox VT20 that is hard to deal with...too many settings.
Several years ago, I bought a Vox AC 10. My pedals are now collecting dust, unused. I concentrate on becoming a better guitar player, rather than chasing that elusive, enchanting tone.
I have a cheap ( inexpensive ) guitar and cheap ( inexpensive ) amp . I also have cheap ( old ) ears . My audience is the kids , grandkids .and a few friends...So far nobody has complained about my tone when I wail out some amazing cowboy chords ( well once my sweetie pie asked me if I could turn it down a bit )...All in all we all seem to be happy and have some fun singalongs ...👍😎🎸
Ed Petrik I agree 100%. This is surely true of 99% of the people watching this video.
Totally agree Brian. Chasing gear is something I have also been guilty of which has inadvertently slowed down my improvement as a player. I always wanted that great tone and thought that a big tube amp and boutique pedals the way to go. Since I found Active Melody I have realised that the music comes from my fingers and not my wallet. Now I'm perfectly happy with my super portable Yamaha THR and can get some great sounds within seconds of switching on the amp. I wish I could have told this to myself years ago.
This stuff is so important, the things you teach me are a real help and things I would not even think of.
The close up on the panel and the way you explain it makes it nice and clear to me about how I can get a better sound and concentrate more on the playing.
Thanks again.
I’ve been buying pedals to get the right sound I want but after watching this I thought I’d experiment. I’ve never really played with pre-gain before so lo and behold when I started fiddling and there was the sound I’ve been looking for. No pedals nothing. Thanks.
I’m a Active Melody member! After taking similar path as you mentioned - chasing great gear - I too realized learning how and what to play along with practice to develop muscle memory is the secret. I will admit however; I’m not as successful as you on dialing in the full sounding tone with grit and sustain. On an amp. So I bought a Kemper. It has helped me and now I mostly work on playing and having fun😀. Thx for taking the time for this. I also hav a Katana 112 and will experiment to see what I can achieve using your technique 👍 vr, Mike
My everyday home amp- 5 watt Marshall (DSL5CR). A fantastic little amp! Has a really nice clean channel and a gain channel that goes from a sweet crunch to nice overdrive and if you desire, total saturation.
I absolutely agree with you Brain. Don't go chasing gear but focus more on playing. Something I did to long! I wanted a tube amp instead of my Fender Mustang 3 v2 amp, but realized that the Fender is the best choice for my situation and that is just playing at home. I spended to many time on finding a suitable tube amp and after a while realizing that I already have a good amp. Just tweak some settings on your amp and eventually you will find the right sound that you like.
Thanks for your stick-to-it-iveness! This exact Crate XT15R is the only amp I've ever owned in my 20 years of guitar playing, and while I always thought the OD channel sounded muddy, I've come to really appreciate it at lower gain.
Thanks this video was right on time I've been playing for six months I'm 43 and I'm in the rabbit hole trying to figure out how to get the sound I hear everyone playing on you tube .
Great observations and advice. On top of that, I enjoyed your bluesy noodling, which I’m now busy trying to duplicate.
I couldn't agree more with everything you said! I don't even have an amp except for a mini Katana that I mostly use as a speaker to my Macbook with Garageband, lol. Always great advice, Brian, you're my hero :)
I enjoy your instructional videos and the ones like these, with no-nonsense, down-to-earth information for folks at all levels of playing and budgets. I’m there with you, I have a Blackstar ID Core 10 amp and a Squier Strat Deluxe. Again, this is very helpful stuff you’ve presented here 👍🏻
I'm glad I saw this video. I've been pondering over changing my pickups. I think I'll save the money.
That's amazing you have the exact guitar (Kay) that was my first guitar 55 years ago. Mine was used when I got it and it was stuffed with old newspapers. Right on brother.
My first rig from when I picked the guitar back up ten years ago was an american peavey predator strat and a mia peavey bandit redstripe that I picked up for 180 bucks altogether. Ive been all around the gear world cuz of youtube ever since. Tube amps, pedals and guitars have rolled in and out of my house for 10 years. A month ago I said to heck with it and got another red stripe bandit with no pedals and my strat with a 2014 gibson melody maker with 2 p90s. It all sounds great to my ears. If something sounds better, I can't tell so who cares 😆.
I like the Kay Value Leader.
I've had one for about 8 years, and it is fun to play because it has a honking kind of growl that borders on feedback, but you can control it. What a fun guitar. Probably great for slide.
Mine's a keeper.
Nice presentation, informative, and useful. Thank you.
I started on a crate amp and it was a good tone because I played that same guitar and amp for six years straight for so many hours a day that I learned my how my guitar behaved and learned to play my amp.
I agree 100%, Marketing is strong.
I gave my brother my JCM 800 100watt combo because i don't have a venue to use that much power and i don't have rodies to lug it arround for me.
I know a bloke who has a JCM 800 Mashall stack, I told him i bet that thing never left your house, He never replied. Just because you have the biggest stuff don't mean everyones going to travel to your place to gig.
Ive decided to now go accoustic mostly but i did recently by a 100 watt Fender Mustang 3 modling amp which is light and compact and has more capabilities then i could ever get around to using. Enough amps and cabnets to load a semi trailer if they was the real physical deal. Ill run out of ideas before it will capabilites put it that way. Alot of players are impressed with this modeling amp saying Fender got this one right.
Its amazing how someone with a $3,000+ Fender or Gibson and a $2000+ amp needs to have 10 pedals to seek that tone.
I think buying gear is an addiction for many.
One of the other members of AM recommended this to me and it is very helpful. I have a beautiful American Professional Telecaster with 2 humbuckers and a Fender GTX50 amp. I think the amp gives me too many choices for someone not as familiar with gear. Thanks, CC
I don't know but every made in the USA brands are so cool sounding even if it's cheap one. And the player makes it even more cooler sounding.
I have one guitar and one amp: a fender mim player series stratocaster ( a great guitar for the price ) and I just bought a Tone king gremlin 5 watt amp. The tone king is a boutique amp so it's pretty expensive but I intend to use that amp and no other for years and years to come so I'm okay with spending that amount of money. I only have a boss sd1 superoverdrive pedal that I use to boost my already overdriven amp if needed. I'm a minimalist kind of guy so my setup works out great for me and having just two knobs and two channels on my amp really alows me to control my sound. Thanks for this video Brian, I really dig this new format of yours!
Sam Pauwels love your set up. Mexican Fenders and budget American Gibson’s on the used market are the two top bang for the bucks guitars.
It's simple, use what you got!.
I couldn't agree more. I've chased the "elusive" tone in my head for years. In that time I've accumulated boutiques tube amps, Kemper, Eleven Rack, Helix and a large collection of pedals. In the end, it was as you said Brian, I ended up with the same basic tone I heard in my head. Now I concentrate on my technique and have much more my joy in playing the guitar.
Love your videos - they ARE going to help me to take on the challenge of adding to my playing (from singer songwriter on an Yamaha FG800 - one of the best sounding acoustics for around $200) to also playing lead in the Sunday jam I have organized at my home on either my Squier Thinline Telecaster or ( just bought) new Squier Stratocaster from Amazon for just ( $119). I plan to play the electrics ( low volume) through my Berringer ACX450 Acoustic Amp. Here I go into new territory! Brian Gardner - Las Vegas
Thanks Brian. I've got a 1989 Squier strat made in korea and a small Marshall MG series 15 DFX amp. I've had these for years. I recently up graded the strat with all new good quality components, pots, switches and input jack. To me it sounds amazing, an incredible difference. It sounds like a new guitar. I definitely agree that skills are paramount but if you are happy with your guitar and sound it helps.
I've been using a Strymon Iridium pedal as my 'amp' recently and love its simplicity for the exact reasons you mentioned. It's all too easy to get lost in the hunt for the perfect tone and have this lead to frustration with your playing. The best thing I ever did for my tone was focus on my picking hand, rather than just my fretting hand. Picking dynamics, mastering techniques such as the rake and more picking dynamics! Made all the difference to my tone and far more than any guitar, amp or pedal ever has.
Thanks, Brian for another informative video. Presently, I'm playing on a Squire Strat and an Epiphone Sheridan II through a Fender Frontman. Still a beginner so I'm constantly trying for a better sound as I learn the technics for playing on six strings.
Brian - enjoyed your demo. My guitar is a 1963 Epiphone Olympic with bridge only Melody Maker single coil pickup. My amp is a Fender Mustang III solid state modeling amp with a 100 watt CELEST speaker. Typically Fender solid states are not very good, but I think they got it right with this unit. I can model vintage Fender and Vox amps and it sounds like the tube amps. I have had it now four years and I only paid $400.
I have a sweet little switchable Carvin amp..... the gain is called soak. You nailed it sir, the gain is so important to a great mix.
I feel ya in saying that you end up sounding the same. I’ve changed gear in the past and always end up sounding like me. Other guitarists play through my rig and sound completely different. It’s fascinating and frustrating all at the same time
I have a lot of guitars and 4 amps, but I always seem to use the cheaper guitars and amps when I play at home... Probably because that's what I learned on, and it's what I hear in my head. Good video! You don't need expensive gear to make great music.
Very handy advice! I have a Mesa Boogie Lonestar Special 2 x 12 and while it’s a great Amp I have just never been able to dial in the tone I’m after! (it’s me not the amp)
PS I just joined as a premium member and hands down it’s the best decision I’ve made in over 40 years of playing guitar! Thank you Brian 🙏🏼 😎🎸
You are precisely correct. I have a houseful of gear including some really cheap solid state amps. These are usually sold for nothing at yard sales. The owners don't understand, since being new to the activity, how to dial in the thing. They are usually sold with the cheapest speaker available. The amp portion is usually ok. I have several 12" common speakers from audio equipment and used amps. They run used for $5-20.00 usd. They transform the cheapest amp into somthing really good to great. I never record, gig or noodle with less than 12". Just DO NOT use a speaker with lower impedance (ohms) than the original speaker. And only use one correct speaker! Also, many times the musicality requiers the guitar to have LESS sustain. I always aim for the least sustain I can get away with for any style play. It makes note clarity much better and prevents unwanted note run on. Thanks!
Again what a great teacher so glad I subscribed to your premium membership thank you so much for what you do you have helped me reach goals already in the short time I have been introduced to you .
Hey....just bought a used Squire Strat and used Crate GX15. This was super helpful
I’ve got a Ibanez rg470 HSH that’s 11 years old plays an works great and the amp I have is a Peavey Nashville 400 with the original 15 inch black widow speaker. I got it from my father in law when he died. The amp is a petal steel or a steel guitar amp but it works great and it’s all I can afford. I’m thinking it was made in the mid 80s and it’s really really LOUD I mean break yer teeth loud but at low volume it rings crystal clear. I love it
Hi Brian, I bought a Joyo Bluejay which is a valve amp hybrid with a Bluetooth interface. Clean tone, with a bright switch. If anyone wants a budget valve setup that can plug into any aux speaker I highly recommend it. Nice that I can play Activemelodies tracks via the Bluetooth connection too. Easily runs any 12inch cabinet too. Big Bang for the buck. Add one distortion pedal to that and you arguably have a small monster on your hands.
I use a Boss Katana 100 because of all different effects. Dont need to buy any pedals. Just like you said, I had a lightbulb moment a few years back when I dialed down the gain. Before that I had exclusively played accoustic because I never liked my amped up sound. Now I'm making up for lost time with the Katana. Thanks for video.
I'm a huge Lonnie Johnson fan !! I own a few different guitar types, but I keep coming back to a simple Telecaster with a Fender amp. Lots of knobs, lots of different sounds. Slainte !
Thank you, for grounding me. I was tone chasing too 🙏🙏
Nice Brian, you inspire me. Thanks
Thank you for the tutorial. This helps a lot. I just bought my boy a base kit from guitar center but this theory and permissions help a lot.
Agree with everything unsaid. I have few nice amps . Fender blues deviled , old fender chorus. The amp I play thru the most is an old Yamaha I bought used for 40 bucks in college. It makes my les Paul sound huge lol
For me, the equipment I use effects my mood and style of playing, it's weird, like when you finally get an instrument that instantly you know, it's yours,bit fits, and you get almost infinite inspiration, kinda like that. It's hard to describe, but, I've actually played some students instruments, using their equipment, and sometimes it's hideous stuff, but it forced me to fit that sound, and it changes the way I normally play. Then, later, I would set up my equipment to try to get that sound, but better. It's opened up worlds of inspiration for me, and has shown me, my equipment is also capable of stuff you never even dreamed of. Now, I sometimes spend hrs honing in some unimaginable sounds. I don't know if I've explained that good enough. But thanks for sharing your journey and knowledge here, with everyone. Music is very personal, and we all should share, I think if we did, the world would be a better place.....ohh gosh, there I go...
That was a really big help. Thank you.
I have a Boss Katana MkII 50, Squier Bullet Strat and Squier Affinity Telecaster with 2 humbuckers. Watched a lot of videos about the amp. The guitars are cheap but something to learn on right now. Now I need to signup for your site so I can learn some blues guitar.
Over a 8 year period I acquired around 25 pedals & power brick - some quite expensive (Strymon etc). This year I sold them all. I cant tell you how much better I feel without them wasting my time. (Mind, I did buy a line 6 Helix floor instead! Ace:-)
Same here 5 yrs. of chasing the tone in my head, sold my amps and pedals. I have one tube amp a Blackstar studio 10, which I don’t use that much, since I bought the helix floor and power cab plus almost a year ago, best purchase I made.
Chuck M Good piece of kit isn’t it! 👍🏻
Like most of the posts here I can say I really enjoy and value these new videos as an added benefit to my subscription. As to gear, I am guilty as charged! Although I do faithfully practice at least an hour every day. Working my way to 10,000 hours! I have a variety of amps and guitars both electric and acoustic. The variety of your lessons lets me use them all! As for an amp though, my main amp is a Quilter Micro pro 20. It is a great little amp and I challenge myself to match your Kemper tones when you have a lesson so I have learned a bit that way also. I also have an outstanding Victoria amp that is a 15 watt tube amp. I need to use your method to see if I can get a little better on that amp. Keep the videos coming Brian.
Jim Lampe heard quilter is best solid state amp
I have this same Crate XT15R amp. It sounds great. Also, like you, I sound pretty much the same no matter what gear I'm playing lol.
I have a Memphis (brazilian branded chinese made) stratocaster and a 30w cheap amp, gotta say, it sounds really good, and it will sound even better thanks to this vid, thanks!
I have a Fender Champion 20, a Squier Bullet Telecaster, and an Ibanez semi-hollow. I just picked up an inexpensive overdrive pedal, which has been kinda fun.
I have a '72 pre-ibanez Raven Strat copy, and a Esquier Fender Thinline Tele and a ASAT Thinline Tele, which I play through my Fender 25R Frontman with a Legend 1058 75w. Speaker upgrade and I also have a Fender Hotrod Deluxe 1x12". I'm happy with the sounds I can get with these...
If I'd known what you have just said about 25 years ago Brian I'd be quite wealthy now, instead of many thousands of dollars spent and wasted on gear over the years. Anyway, great advice is never too late. Now finally settled with a very basic Fender Chris Stapleton Princeton and Fender 63 Reverb tank. Just a volume and tone control and built in tremolo. With your excellent lessons I can also enjoy my playing very much.
Great video Brian.
I just picked up a Fender Blues Junior that I'm really enjoying 👍
Spend him a Weber 10F125,and its a dream
I've got a Gretsch Streamliner and a Vox AC10. Occasionally, I plug in my Epiphone J200 acoustic. I've got a couple pedals, but haven't used them in years.
Finally an explanation I can work with...I'm playing a Gibson LP faded thru a Blackstar 20
You are the best teacher
Hi, because you asked: my amp is a Roland blues cube which is perfect for me, I like the gritty sound of it, always just a tiny bit of gain and reverb, treble way lo, mids and bass @12h. Nice thing is the USB output.
I have 2 guitars, my burnt orange Gretsch and a Yamaha Silent Guitar (nylon strings).
This video really helped with my GAS.
The gain actually Introduces a natural compression..
I mostly just play at home, i use a Marshall code 100 , i also use a digitech 355 , sometimes i use my fender frontman 212 , abd a boss me 25 , line 6 delay pedal , boss cs3 compressor, I’ve been playing guitar since 1962 , play 60s rock , country , ventures style, chet atkins, I’m still looking for better tones, I’m still learning to play, music is a never ending puzzle.
I have to admit that I've recently begun using a Positive Grid Spark, which for all the hype, seems to deliver a lot great tone -- even without the thousands of online options. Add the online menu of pedals and amps, and you'll never be at a loss for unique tones.
Very true Brian..Over the years I ended up realising the same..whichever amp I used I ended up with the same sound..near as damn it.
Back in my early years there weren't as many amp choices as there are today..I used a Marshall back then...
Practice amps weren't too good bye and large..at least not the ones I had access to.
Pedals..? Again not the plethera of those we have today either, and it wasn't always easy to get them. No internet to order from so it was a long trip to a bigger music shop for any pedals you could get..and other stuff.
I probably said this before but my first amp was me record player..which was a decent bit of kit with decent speakers.
So you had to learn how to pull the tones from the guitar/s you had and work with the amp/s and a pedal or 3 you had.
I think these days many new or newish to guitar tend toward relying on pedals and the amp far too much.
As the saying goes, the tell for a good player is how well you can play an acoustic..unplugged.
No amp, no pedals, no vol and tone knobs..just the guitar and you.
I found out the truth in that first time I played an acoustic..It didn't go too well.
Once I got the hang of it,got a feel for it, I did find my electric playing improved.
Thank you for this video. My guitars are a MIM Strat, Gibson SG and Harmony H80T played though a Fender Blues Jr. someone gave me a list of “settings” I would be happy to share. That being said i have been playing with a reverb 3 Master 3 Mid 6 Bass 4 Treble 10 Fat Out Vol 5. I do own a few pedals: tuner, Big Muff, and TS
Man I found your video and it has gave me some hope ,cause I'm doing what you said chasing gear .. I got different guitars and even a marshall stack but still cant get the sound I'm wanting
Thanks for this video, I am seeing a lot of people talking about their gear. I have always kind of thought that the gear is not so important as the music. I think of it more like a tool (as Tab Benoit also once said, and he by the way, plays always straight from the amp. No pedals.). I stick with my Mexican strat and my mustang gt40. This is my setup, and it will stay like that for a quite some time.
Lonnie Johnson, right on.
Yeah....very helpful. I've got a cheap Monoprice tube amp.....turning up the guitar volume full and then backing off a little first, made all the difference. This sounds good now!
Carlos Funk thinking about getting one. Any idea if there hard to work on ?
@@stephenhanlin2388 no idea, but it's been great for me. Absolutely no complaints. I just did not have me guitar volume high enough. That was the magic trick.
Carlos Funk thx for the reply think I’ll get it
@@stephenhanlin2388 There's nothing better for close to the price.
Thanks for sharing this. I have import guitars, cheap, cheap ones. A cheap TDA7297 amp board of ebay, unbranded, and a Zoom G1xon, and it's possible to get a lot of different tones. And of course, the way you play affects everything else. That's for sure. For headphone amp, I have a Nice gp-1, very cheap as well. And don't forget the speakers, which are very very very important too. I have taken mines from my old car. Two of 4 ohm that I connected in series to get 8 ohm of impedance.
Simple, old and raw. Killer! If that's what you want. Great for vintage style delta blues. I like it. The Kay was cheap when it was new. Now it's considered "vintage" and it's selling for 6 times the original price.
As always, very good advice Brian. It can be a minefield trying to get a good sound out of your amp and I think you are right, you should just focus on your playing and use your ears to adjust to get your own tone as it’s Different for everyone and so many factors can influence your sound. With that said, I do find it really interesting how guitar players “dial in” their time from the amps, Especially some of the more “spacey” sounds like you have got in a couple of your lessons. Personally at the moment I don’t think you can go far wrong with a Boss Katana. I think that they are one of the best amps out there on the market at the moment at really affordable prices.
Yes, I use the BOSS Katana version one with a four channel foot switch so I can access four of my personally programmed sounds or even sounds that I have downloaded for free through the BOSS editing sweet, and right now as a student of guitar I don't need a anything else.
Even as I step up to performing and jamming with others I believe this Katana will get me deep into that
Thank you.. One day I hope to play as well as you wing it. 👍
Yes Brian I agree I have spent a fortune on guitars and amps, I have had them all , at the moment I have a blues junior for my electric and for my acoustics I have a Boss acoustic singer live , and there not cheap guitars I am putting through them electric is fender roadhouse , acoustic Martin ooo28ec which I mic up , and martin x series with a pickup in it .Looking for that sound is like trying to find the holy grail .but you are right I might be going over the top with stuff ,any way thanks for the advice . PS if some body showed me how to use a pick might help . haha .
Once again, excellent advice! The most important aspect of your tone is in your hands. Gear may help, but it will not do it for you.
Love this vid and topic. I started out doing exactly what you said....trying to get the best amps and guitars only to later realize that I should really just keep it simple. As of right now my two favorite amp are my Katana MKII 50 and Fender Frontman 25R which is perfect for my music room. The other two...a Fender Mustang VII which isn't bad and a Line 6 Hd 150watt Head with 4x12 cab....haven't touch either of them in over a year cuz I'm just enjoying clean sounds with a bit of Tube screamer lately. Like you said it's all about playing first!🤘🎼🎸
tone and overall sound also depends on how you play guitar, how your fingers attack the strings and so on. i remember going to a blues jam years ago and the guy who was running the jam was playing his strat on a cheap old amp and he sounded okay but then a guy from the audience got up and played the same guitar, same amp and so on but sounded completely different from the jam's host. physical dynamics are key.
My go to setup is a fender tweed princeton copy (a head and cabinet) with a squire telecaster. Add a Boss Blues Driver and cheap reverb pedal and I am go to go. I have much more expensive setups but I much prefer my cheap rig.
Good tips! I too have found I can get a useable sound out of most any amp. In ones early learning stage you are likely to sound just as bad on an expensive amp as a cheap one...lol! Seriously...think about it. It's all about experience with many different scenarios and amps. Just keep experimenting and practicing until you find your niche.
Awsome .,you are the man..thanks for everything man.
Hi Brian - great advice thanks. I use a Fender Squire Guitar and a Fender G-Dec Junior amp
Thank you for sharing.
Hello I just watched your vid. Thanks for the info you cleared up a lot of thinga for me. I get so confused sometimes because there is so much technology out there it is hard to know how to use it all. I have recently built a collection of cheap guitar amps and guitars because I cant afford name brand stuff. my cheapest guitar is a “Glarry” Chinese knock off of a Stratocaster. it plays good enough for me. My amps are a Monoprice Stage Right 15watt tube amp, a Spark 40 watt digital amp and a 40 watt Peavy Vyper digital modeling amp. The only name brand guitars I own are an Epiphone Les Paul an Ibanez acoustic electric classical and 2 Ibanez Basses.
Brian, thanks, you probably saved me a great deal of money :), I would agree with the another comment the Boss Katana is a excellent sounding amp at a very reasonable cost. I would think anyone looking for a solidstate amp should give it a hard look. Have you tried one?
Dave & Lenka Walker yes! I will do a video on it. I really love the Katana - excellent amp for the price
I couldn’t agree more. It’s fantastic and fantastic value. 👍🏻
I like building tube amps so I have six at the moment. Does not matter which one I am using, or which settings, I sound like me !
I think it's wise to research your gear, if you really are chasing a tone. But essentially nab the gear to get you started, vs waiting for the right gear to even begin. I loved my original Yamaha cheapo but I really found my sound when I bought a Red Special. Knife edge bridges can be finicky if you're a heavy handed player but the amount of vibrato you can achieve with slight wrist pressure on them is insane.
Good advice, Brian. Thanks. I'm using a Fender Mustang LT 25 1x8" 25-watt Combo Amp. But first I run the guitar signal through a Boss BD-2 Blues Driver pedal (which you recommended years ago on active melody) with the gain set at about 40%. CharleyDelta
Hey Brian, great video! A.M. user here, and was hoping you might be able to put up tabs or do a video on the song you played at 1:40 into the video. I feel it ties into some of your recent vids about noodling and "playing something" if you could even include the little runs you did later in the video, that would be great! And if it already exists somewhere, just point me to the E.P.
As always great insight and advice! Thx!!
Uufff... suddenly I feel stress free 😄
I ran an ad on Craig's List for a cheap guitar I got in a trade. A young guy came out to try it but he couldn't really play yet. So I demoed it for him, and he decided it would suit him. He then asked if I knew anyone who was selling a Dumble amp! I explained the hand made, extremely rare, $100,000 thing to him as gently as I could. He was disappointed since his hero John Mayer played thru one! I suggested a Blues Jr. and said before he got to be my age he would buy several more amps and eventually know what to expect of one.
Very helpful. I use a old Vantage Amp.
Brian .. I am the 1st viewer of this video....as always look forward to all your videos and lessons ☺️
So true.
Playing a 77 Fender deluxe reverb that sounds muddy, a newer fender Deluxe, no gain, just volume . Struggle to get sustain and blues sound. Maybe need to turn amp up and turn guitar down? Play softly for clean and harder for distortion?
Also have a Vox VT20 that is hard to deal with...too many settings.
I have a Mako TS-3 silver burst strat style guitar and a Fender Jam 1x12 amp. Just learning at 58.
Missing tip of my index finger on my fretting hand.
Very very handy tip
Great video! Keep people from giving into GAS!
Several years ago, I bought a Vox AC 10. My pedals are now collecting dust, unused. I concentrate on becoming a better guitar player, rather than chasing that elusive, enchanting tone.
Thanks Brian! Great info!