Gear plans 2026

[MadAsAHatter]

My top priority is to compete converting the garage into my music space. I'm finishing up Stage 1 of cleaning it out. All my tools have been moved to my new workshop and all the junk has been tossed. I just need to find a better spot for the little bit of lawn equipment that's still in there. Then it's on to Stage 2: Insulating and installing a mini split.

As far a gear goes; I have a list of project amps I'd like to build, but nothing set in stone. I'd also like to get another SonicTone amp. I'm eying his Class A SE12. But all of that will need to wait until I'm at a point of being able to move things into the new setup. My current space has no more room.

 

[BABMusic]

Went to GC today and tried out a DSL40 combo. I can't figure this out, but every single DSL I try is super muddy sounding. WTF am I doing wrong? Were they always this way? I don't remember my old JCM2000 sounding like this. It's very confusing.

 

[DanTravis62]

Went to GC today and tried out a DSL40 combo. I can't figure this out, but every single DSL I try is super muddy sounding. WTF am I doing wrong? Were they always this way? I don't remember my old JCM2000 sounding like this. It's very confusing.

No, you aren't crazy. I vastly prefer the JCM2000 DSLs to the new ones as well.

 

[cobrahead1030]

There are a bunch of amps you need to try out man

I have gone through a million amps trying to find the best clean and mid gain tones, and there's about a half dozen that have ended up at the top of the list. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Dr Z Maz
2. Matchless Clubman/Phoenix/cobra (all the el34 ones)
3. TopHat club royale/king royale
4. Mesa Boogie Cali Tweed
5. Hiwatt DR504 and 103 (if your ears can take it, they are stupid loud)
6. Vintage Bassman/Bandmaster AB165 Fenders


I would seek some of these out and give them a try - most of these I was completely blown away by for those types of tones

The Maz & Cali Tweed are both very high on the list of amps I’m looking at for that kind of sound.

The two rock vintage deluxe looks very appealing as well, but it’s nearly double the price of the others I’m considering & not a ton of used ones out there.

 

[DanTravis62]

The Maz & Cali Tweed are both very high on the list of amps I’m looking at for that kind of sound.

The two rock vintage deluxe looks very appealing as well, but it’s nearly double the price of the others I’m considering & not a ton of used ones out there.

I've played most of the two rock line. They are definitely great, but IMO not worth the considerable premium compared to other Fender amps you can get basically that exact clean tone out of. That's why the Fender Bassman/Bandmaster from the blackface/drip edge era is on the list. If THAT tone is the one you want, you can get that exact tone with one of those and an expensive OD pedal for 1/4 of the price.

The Cali tweed is a million times more versatile, better sounding, and a better deal as far as tone to dollars. With the power scaling you can basically get any fender tweed or blackface sound you want.

The Maz is more of a "mild overdrive" or slightly broken up tone rather than an amazing clean tone, but good lord is it an amazing tone.

 

[peterc52]

I’m not done with amps. But I I’m done with MOST amps!

Happy with what I’ve got. Unless it’s a great deal I’m building them myself. Hacked up the Langner and turning it into a JJ mod/2203 thing. The Langner lost to GZ Sniper. Might go for another cool LP though! Soon’ or maybe another Mayones Duvell

 

[BlueParfait]

Thinking of saving up some pocket money to reacquire the Tom Anderson I sold last year

 

[SgtThump]

Lots of gigs already booked for 2026 and I suspect a few more will be added throughout the year. Gonna be the busiest year for me in 15 or so years.

EDIT - I didn’t even mention gear plans. I have four guitars up for sale now and may sell more next year. I’m pretty good on amps. If I can keep myself busy gigging, I will probably cut down on my impulse purchases.

I said that, then ordered a new Custom Shop Strat the next day on Jan 1.

Lololol

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

I’m not done with amps. But I I’m done with MOST amps!

Happy with what I’ve got. Unless it’s a great deal I’m building them myself. Hacked up the Langner and turning it into a JJ mod/2203 thing. The Langner lost to GZ Sniper. Might go for another cool LP though! Soon’ or maybe another Mayones Duvell

The only amps I need are within the Mesa Mark family. I don't even keep up with new amps much. If I want variety, there are racks and pedals or preamp pedals through the clean channel.

The thing I seemingly never tire of however, is stalking guitars! I still don't have a solution to that other than playing more often/longer duration, which seems to prevent me from thinking about more guitars....

 

[Al Chapo]

I finished up the last week of 2025 with a jazzmaster, 1980 2203 mkii, boss bcb 60 and fryette ps2a. I'll probably take it pretty easy this year. I'd like to get a Marshall straight 4x12 and load it with blackbacks, I'm otherwise pretty set. I still have a few amps on the bucket list, but it's getting harder to justify avoiding modelers lol.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

I finished up the last week of 2025 with a jazzmaster, 1980 2203 mkii, boss bcb 60 and fryette ps2a. I'll probably take it pretty easy this year. I'd like to get a Marshall straight 4x12 and load it with blackbacks, I'm otherwise pretty set. I still have a few amps on the bucket list, but it's getting harder to justify avoiding modelers lol.

Giving up on real tube amps is kinda like an obese person giving up on fitting into blue jeans and going for sweatpants......

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I finished up the last week of 2025 with a jazzmaster, 1980 2203 mkii, boss bcb 60 and fryette ps2a. I'll probably take it pretty easy this year. I'd like to get a Marshall straight 4x12 and load it with blackbacks, I'm otherwise pretty set. I still have a few amps on the bucket list, but it's getting harder to justify avoiding modelers lol.

There are certain things about modelers that are interesting. If I could get one to give me the feel and sound of a tube amp at volume, I would consider a little harder.

It is like my Harley. It isn't modern, it isn't an engineering marvel, but it fucks hard and sounds right.

 

[Al Chapo]

Giving up on real tube amps is kinda like an obese person giving up on fitting into blue jeans and going for sweatpants......

I'd never give up on them. I have an AC30, Gretsch Executive, JCM 900 and JMP 2203. I only gig the ac30 and 900, how many thousands of dollars do I really want to invest in minimal use?

There are certain things about modelers that are interesting. If I could get one to give me the feel and sound of a tube amp at volume, I would consider a little harder.

It is like my Harley. It isn't modern, it isn't an engineering marvel, but it fucks hard and sounds right.

I'm not using it to replace anything or I'd share the sentiment. It's just a recording apparatus and backup rig in my mind. My boss ir-2 has a recto sim on it, plugged into an fx loop it sounds really good. It might not sound like a spot on recto in the room, but it doesn't sound $3k less good, and I barely use it anyway lol.

 

[skoora]

I said that, then ordered a new Custom Shop Strat the next day on Jan 1.

Lololol

The threat is real.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I'd never give up on them. I have an AC30, Gretsch Executive, JCM 900 and JMP 2203. I only gig the ac30 and 900, how many thousands of dollars do I really want to invest in minimal use?

I'm not using it to replace anything or I'd share the sentiment. It's just a recording apparatus and backup rig in my mind. My boss ir-2 has a recto sim on it, plugged into an fx loop it sounds really good. It might not sound like a spot on recto in the room, but it doesn't sound $3k less good, and I barely use it anyway lol.

I have hard flirted with a fm3. But I think about how much fucking tinkering I will do and lose interest

 

[romanianreaper]

There are certain things about modelers that are interesting. If I could get one to give me the feel and sound of a tube amp at volume, I would consider a little harder.

It is like my Harley. It isn't modern, it isn't an engineering marvel, but it fucks hard and sounds right.

I think modellers have the cleans and mid gain down pretty good. In my experience, for in the room and gigging, it has this one dimensional feel. I tried a bunch of options and I think the speakers and cabs really are what needs to be worked on.

I really do like where they are going with modellers but I need simple, compact, reliable and easy. I like what Fractal did recently with the AM4. I have mentioned it before but I think they are finally getting into the modelling stuff that makes everything sound more "real". You have to include the noise, electrical parts, etc. that are not part of the tone but affect the tone. If you don't, it will sound too polished a perfect.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I think modellers have the cleans and mid gain down pretty good. In my experience, for in the room and gigging, it has this one dimensional feel. I tried a bunch of options and I think the speakers and cabs really are what needs to be worked on.

I really do like where they are going with modellers but I need simple, compact, reliable and easy. I like what Fractal did recently with the AM4. I have mentioned it before but I think they are finally getting into the modelling stuff that makes everything sound more "real". You have to include the noise, electrical parts, etc. that are not part of the tone but affect the tone. If you don't, it will sound too polished a perfect.

I mostly agree. Live through front of house, they are perfect in a mix. In the guitar room, that is where i need the greatness

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

I think modellers have the cleans and mid gain down pretty good. In my experience, for in the room and gigging, it has this one dimensional feel. I tried a bunch of options and I think the speakers and cabs really are what needs to be worked on.

I really do like where they are going with modellers but I need simple, compact, reliable and easy. I like what Fractal did recently with the AM4. I have mentioned it before but I think they are finally getting into the modelling stuff that makes everything sound more "real". You have to include the noise, electrical parts, etc. that are not part of the tone but affect the tone. If you don't, it will sound too polished a perfect.

I've played some very good, very recent modelers. Getting close to the untrained ear, but still no cigar. And that's before discussing feel.

My fundamental toan will always come from tube amps.

 

[Metalhex]

I've been stalking modelers for years! Still could never pull the trigger, and I think it's because I don't play shows of any kind. Now that I'm getting slowly back into recording again, I am stalking modellers again. But then I get to thinking, and then some more thinking, then over thinking, eventually I somehow manage to talk myself out of buying one and this toxic cycle repeats ad infinitum!!

 

[skoora]

I've been stalking modelers for years! Still could never pull the trigger, and I think it's because I don't play shows of any kind. Now that I'm getting slowly back into recording again, I am stalking modellers again. But then I get to thinking, and then some more thinking, then over thinking, eventually I somehow manage to talk myself out of buying one and this toxic cycle repeats ad infinitum!!

I only play at home now, with the occasional recording and the idea of a good modeler sure has its appeal, but I just know myself and I always get tired of working on a computer screen or editing. I barely record because I just don’t really enjoy DAWS, beyond basic tracking. Came up with boards and tape machines, patch bays and racks.
As music really is about how it feels more than technically trying to finish something the most efficiently, I’m gonna stick with what I enjoy, the feel, the tactile nature, the smell and even somewhat the erratic nature of how the sound can change, day-to-day and working with that.
I like physical microphones and cabs, I love how randomly choosing some pedals on a certain amp, set a certain way, gives you something amazing that you would never have logically thought to do, more so on a touchscreen or editor.