What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amps?

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Willy25

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1) What piece of gear you guys think is so overprice, they should cut the price and stop Its propaganda lol

2) I see some youtubers and famous guitarists introduce Kemper, ax8, helix etc. On their videos, talking like they will make the switch. But the majority keep their tube amps, now are those units overrated?

I can just purchase a quality interface like Audient, plus S-gear and bam good tone at a good price.
By searching online, ( lost the article) to make your amp sofwares sound good, you need a quality interface ( good preamps). Look online for scarlett, steinberg vs Audient. What a difference.
 
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Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

1) Klon Centaur

2) Tube amps (and a well made SS) have more mojo then amp emulating software. Modeling amps haven't gotten good enough to appeal to a large amount of guitarists (this is based off of soley my own experience). Plus I like the analog nature of amps, I am quite the modder and amplifiers appeal to that nature.
 
Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

Tube amps. High end modeling amps sound just as good, are more flexible (i.e. can replicate 100 classic amps and also make new sounds), are more reliable and sound great at all volumes. I get that they're expensive because of the output transformers and build quality required to be even slightly reliable, but I think they've become some mythical beast that people can't approach rationally anymore. I'd dare people to take a blindfolded test before talking about intangible things like mojo.

Also, overdrive and distortion pedals always seem overpriced and overrated. They've got 50 cents worth of components in them and they're almost all just a tiny variation of the same circuit.

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Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

ibanezrocks said:
I'd dare people to take a blindfolded test before talking about intangible things like mojo.
Click to expand...

Listening to them blindfolded, we’d probably all fail. Playing through them, I seriously doubt it.

There’s a lot of stuff I’m not into, but I don’t know I’d call any of it overrated.
 
Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

Willy25 said:
1) What you guys think is so overprice, should they cut the price and stop Its propaganda lol

2) I see some youtubers and famous guitarist introduce Kemper, ax8, helix etc. On their videos, talking like they will make the switch. But the mayority keep their tube amps, now are those units overrated?

I can just purchase a quality interface like Audient, plus S-gear and bam good tone at a good price.
By searching online, ( lost the article) to make your amp sofwares sound good, you need a quality interface ( good preamps). Look online for scarlett, steinberg vs Audient. What a difference.
Click to expand...

I think you're confusing the term overrated with antiquated.
Guitarists still use tube amps for the same reason car guys love muscle cars, why motorcycle guys like old Indians and fat boys and why people still listen to and buy vinyl. Because they like them...
There's really no need to justify why someone likes something, they just know they do and it goes beyond practicality.
 
Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

I only use amp modeling. I haven’t recorded with an amp since the 80’s!

For recording I use Logic. They have some great amp models and effects. Prior to that I recorded with a Johnson J-Station. Before that a Korg Pandora.

Live I use a Marshall Code 100. I change tones during songs, so this way I was able to recreate my recorded tones. The only pedals I use is a Vox wah and a Whammy.

Before the Marshall I had a Vox VT80+. I A/B’d that with the singer in my former band’s AC15 and it was hard to tell them apart.

And in the last cover band I was in (playing bass) the guitarist sold his Mesa TriAxis and got a Fractal AxeFX II. That thing was great.

Yeah, modeling amps *feel* a little different, but I don’t care. I’m used to it and I’m all about the myriad tones I can get.

Most overrated piece of gear? All these over priced Tube Screamer clones. Lol


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Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

ibanezrocks said:
I'd dare people to take a blindfolded test before talking about intangible things like mojo.
Click to expand...

Then you wouldn't get the mojo. A lot of the joy of owning say, a Dumble, is that you have a Dumble. There are plenty of modeling amps that can cover a Dumble, but it doesn't have the mojo.
 
What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amps?

Chistopher said:
Then you wouldn't get the mojo. A lot of the joy of owning say, a Dumble, is that you have a Dumble. There are plenty of modeling amps that can cover a Dumble, but it doesn't have the mojo.
Click to expand...

Mojo is intangible, i.e., in the mind of the beholder.

Look at some Zep recordings... a Tele strung with 8’s plugged right into the board. Yet people get this image of Les Pauls and Marshalls. Lol.

Plus look how many people use a clean tube amp and a solid state pedal for distortion. What’s the difference ?

I say it’s time to venture into uncharted territory! [emoji3] create your own mojo.


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Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

Chistopher said:
Then you wouldn't get the mojo. A lot of the joy of owning say, a Dumble, is that you have a Dumble. There are plenty of modeling amps that can cover a Dumble, but it doesn't have the mojo.
Click to expand...

Why don't you take the blindfolded test to prove that you get the 'mojo'.
 
Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

I think the most overrated piece of gear is whatever’s being discussed on the Internet right now. I think a lot of players offer their “reviews” without appreciating their own limitations as reviewers. It’s fine to post your opinions on a wah pedal, for example, but let’s say you just bought it. And it’s the only wah pedal you’ve ever owned. Or maybe played through. Of course it’s amazing. Of course you don’t know of any better wah pedals on the market. Of course it’s the best.

All this is part of the reason why I haven’t said too much about new gear purchases for a while. I know many on this forum have a lot more experience with different gear than I do, so I’ve tried to rein in the fawning praise and the absolutes.
 
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Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

Obsessive Compulsive said:
Why don't you take the blindfolded test to prove that you get the 'mojo'.
Click to expand...

You appear to be misunderstanding the concept of mojo. I'll change my phrasing to "owning hyped gear creates good feelings". Unless of course, the gear is over hyped and the amp/pedal/guitar is actually junk.
 
Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

I played a 6505 at GC, ( been playing modeling amps and do not own a real amp) can't explain the feeling, like the sound was more alive, organic. It made me want to practice guitar more, got more inspire. Lol

The heads are expensive. I'll go for a combo, what you guys think the Blackstar Ht club 40 Markii or the Peavey 6505+ combo? Also some inexpensive heads are the Bugeras, they solved allot of technical problems that old models had. Might go for one.
 
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Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

DavidRavenMoon said:
Plus look how many people use a clean tube amp and a solid state pedal for distortion. What’s the difference ?
Click to expand...

Are you asking what the difference between modeling and a tube amp with a distortion pedal in front is?
 
Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

Well, I dig my AX8, and my tube amp. Live, I use the AX8 for 1. the options & 2. the weight.
 
Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

1) Keyboardists [emoji33][emoji12]

2) Tube or solid state, pedals, modeling, etc... they ALL sound better through a decent speaker designed for a guitar amp. There’s more “punch” than say a powered speaker or PA.

But the other ways sound pretty damn good nowadays too. Nothing wrong with going in either direction.
 
Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

Willy25 said:
The heads are expensive. I'll go for a combo, what you guys think the Blackstar Ht club 40 Markii or the Peavey 6505+ combo? Also some inexpensive heads are the Bugeras, they solved allot of technical problems that old models had. Might go for one.
Click to expand...

Given the choice between a 6505 and Blackstar, I'd take the 6505. The few Blackstars I've played through had far more gain than necessary and it came at the price of clarity. When I play I like to hear what I'm actually playing, as opposed to a wall of compressed mush. I'd also stay away from Bugera as I've heard that they have reliability / durability issues. If you're looking for an inexpensive high gain tube amp, it's hard to beat Jet City. I have their 22H and that thing is brutal; I no longer want a Mini Rectifier or Rectoverb. Also don't rule out the used market. I'm not sure where you are, but in most of the US used 6505 heads can be had for $450-600.
 
Re: What is the most overrated piece of gear? And why do most guitarist still use amp

Most overrated piece of gear in general: dirt boxes.

Why people still play amps? I can't take that question seriously.
 
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