Gear plans 2026

[romanianreaper]

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.

Yeah and the tweaking. I don't think it is good to have a ton of amps with tons of options. It is like you save up and get your dream sports car and have a garage filled with other sports cars. You go drive them just to try it and compare. It just creates this cycle.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

Yeah and the tweaking. I don't think it is good to have a ton of amps with tons of options. It is like you save up and get your dream sports car and have a garage filled with other sports cars. You go drive them just to try it and compare. It just creates this cycle.

It's ultimately not that important to constantly tweak every imaginable parameter, feel like you somehow "can't be happy" until you get the latest firmware update, and especially not to have 800 amp options. Who needs every amp ever made??

I figured out what works for my amps when I first got them and rarely change them. After that it was time to jam/create! That's the reason I play instruments.

I like to experiment a bit with delays and pitch shifting, but that's just the icing on top.

 

[Spaceboy]

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 use modelers for home recording. I hate them for shows. I understand the convenience, but on stage I need real volume and tubes. I also don't want to tweak on the fly by scrolling through parameters and all that bullshit. I'm a caveman, I need to want to twist a knob and use my ears. But at home, modelers are phenomenal and can get inspiring tones and fun sessions of tweaking and testing out ideas that would cost me thousands with the real deal. Being able to test out various routing, stereo rigs, amp and speaker combinations, etc has actually caused me to seek out the real amps through the years. I've also got some of the best recorded tones I've ever had, even with real amps by loading them down and using IRs and processing within the modelers.

 

[Metalhex]

I've also got some of the best recorded tones I've ever had, even with real amps by loading them down and using IRs and processing within the modelers

This is what I hope to start doing someday but I am a noob. I have my amps and cabs/mic downstairs and my recording and computer upstairs. So either I have to crank my amps and run a long cable upstairs to my interface, or I have to capture my amp and use it on a modeler to my PC. As far as recording my amps DI, and using IR's, I've never done either before. I am also the type that I don't want fumble around with interfaces and digital knobs for hours on end. I want to have a good base tone and then do minimal tweaking to make it better. (Wishful thinking for me to be hoping for these things as a noob).

I can crank my amp initially but probably not for hours on end. The alternative would be to crank my amp and capture it, so I can continue the process at a bedroom volume.

 

[nightlight]

I'm hoping I can take a trip to Israel and get my OD Guitars Venus 6 repaired, after someone *broke* the truss rod (actually broke it by drilling through the metal at the point where your Allen key goes, leaving a gaping hole at that part). Hoping to get it to the builder and get it back by the time I return (due to 40% customs and additional cess and all kinds of import barriers to trade). If not, I'll take two trips, it'll still be cheaper than customs out here.

 

[Maarcn3]

Gonna focus on new gear and writing new material.

 

[DrewJD82]

I ended 2025 ensuring I wouldn’t have to think about gear much at all in 2026. I’m finishing up my pedalboard that’ll cover every tone from the 50’s-90’s, the Fryette Power Station will let me use my amps or Fractal shit anywhere in any combination, this year is going to be about writing, recording and gigging.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

So far:

1) I want a 24.75" scale shred guitar
2) Aria Pro II SB1000 Bass (4-string)
3) ??
4) Profit

 

[romanianreaper]

So far:

1) I want a 24.75" scale shred guitar
2) Aria Pro II SB1000 Bass (4-string)
3) ??
4) Profit

The Cliff bass

 

[OldGtrGuy]

Currently I am trying to recreate my best sounding cabinet.

Not much of a hoarder so if im not using something I usually sell it. Previous band from years ago didnt work out so I regrettably sold my half stack.

The cab was interesting, I'm sure i can't get it 100% of what it was but close is the goal.

It was a beat up Peavey 412MS that I got for free. I put in a pair of Chinese V30 (dont know the year) and a pair of WGS HM75. I had this cab next to a VHT D412 and an Uberkab in a recording session and the cheap Peavey beat them all.

The HM75s have since been discontinued and have been impossible to find but a few weeks ago one popped up on Reverb and another on Ebay so I snagged them both. Ive got the V30s on the way so now all I need is the right Peavey 412ms lol.

I see a couple locally but way overpriced IMO, just waiting for the right one to pop up.

That's my gear goal currently and I've really been GASing hard for this one particular amp that I might snag next payday and then I really must stop

I fell into some unexpected issues last year, had to sell all my stuff. A couple of guys here really helped me out big with that. Since then ive finally been able to recoup and rebuild.

I have a killer half stack now, a sweet guitar, a nice backup for live and my modest pedalboard is done. I may test a boost here and there throughout the year, maybe a different noise gate but im pretty much all set after this little venture.

 

[ChurchHill]

So far:

1) I want a 24.75" scale shred guitar
2) Aria Pro II SB1000 Bass (4-string)
3) ??
4) Profit

Just curious... what 24.75" shredders are you looking at? They seem to be few and far between. My first really nice guitar was a Charvel Fusion, 24.75" 24 frets. I'd love to find something like that but neck-thru. BC Rich comes to mind, I think Caparison. I'd bet ESP Custom Shop would make one, but I've been told Jackson won't. Anway, just thought I'd ask in case there's something I haven't come across yet.

 

[LPMojoGL]

Looking ahead to 2026? Post your plans!!

Get rid of some stuff.
Anyone want to help me choose what to axe?

 

[Geo]

Selling all my gear to buy gold and silver.

Remember this post.

 

[peterc52]

So far so good. Soon in the mail Wizard Hell Razor

 

[Fusionbear]

This is where I am too. First gig is on the 23rd of this month. Have 9 more booked so far.... my other bands will start booking in the next two weeks.... woo hoo!

I ended up playing at a birthday jam for a good friend last Sunday. It was a blast! Lot of awesome players there. We made it sound decent even though there was no rehearsal whatsoever...

 

[phillybhatesme]

I'm ashamed to say that I know nothing about setting up guitars. I am kind of nervous to turn a truss rod, so when I get new guitars, I usually take them to a luthier (he's a builder, not just a guitar tech) to get them set up. Dude is running a class this January that I'll be attending to start learning the basics. It's really damn time I learn how to do a setup.

This has been going swimmingly. I filed some frets last week and will crown and polish them this week.

I need to pare down as well...

This has not been going well. I've probably bought like 8 guitars since making this post. And I'm about to buy 2 more, fuck it.

 

[Chris6870]

My plan is to liquidate everything except a few key pieces.

 

[Chris6870]

Not really sure. It's been a surreal year financially - big promotion into engineering management of a large cap tech firm that came with lots of equity, just in time to be the second best performing stock in the S&P500 AND spin off another company that became the best performing stock in the S&P. In other words I was forced by company compensation policy to take an absurd risk I'd never take if I controlled my position, and it came out beyond perfect. I'm suddenly asking what would happen if I moved my retirement up to the day my daughter graduates college, or hell, maybe way sooner than that. Its' a huge blessing but upends a lot of plans.

WD and SNDK? If so that has definately been the highlight of my portfolio, up 1000%!

 

[Corey James]

I checked a box and picked up a used Taylor Rosewood backed guitar last week (and accidentally came home with another Modern T (also used) in the process)!

Other goal: rewiring my recording area, and not spending any more $! ( damn you @espquade )

 

[lol]

Another 4 string bass, new bass amp or at least getting my mesa mpulse 600 repaired.