A few additions/some info: I started this comparison with recreating the sound of the Tone King on the Fender Mustang. The Tone King's Rhythm channel (which I used for this demo) is voiced like a Deluxe Reverb, so I picked that amp model on the Mustang and went from there. I also tried to program the spring reverb as close as possible to the Tone King's reverb. I did not change any of the amp's settings during the demo and just added the effects on top of the amps as they were from the get go.
First I thought that they sound different but I couldn't say what was better. But in the last example the expensive amp was much better. I think more money for the guitar rather improves playability than sound.
@@greymodoy2126 I started playing back in 1974, I am still only shuffling/walking along. Granted work and family have always taken the priority of my time these days. I think I was a better player back in High School when I actually had the time to sometimes practice guitar 8+ hours a day. I watched a video about Jack Pearson (a great Musician & Session Artist), he went on tour with the Allmen Brothers with an Indonesian Squier Bullet Stratocaster! So yeah, while better equipment is always a plus it ultimately boils down to the Player and their hands, talent and dedication. As a Guitarist I think the higher end equipment I own certainly is not necessary, it's just part of the hobby/enjoyment. I love watching Mr. Davids videos. He is a fantastically talented player/teacher and it goes without saying the the production level of his videos are in the top 1%. Not often can learning be such a great and enjoyable experience as provided by Paul. Also, love that Tone King amp.
@@greymodoy2126 Congrats Sir, remember to try and get enough sleep (easier said than done). The Wife and I decided that with each Grandchild born we would purchase a new guitar that year for each child. I will keep and properly wear-in each instrument. When the Grandchildren are old enough and if they have an interest in guitar I will then Will it to them. This came about because I have been looking for a nice guitar that was built the year I was born. I'm not a rich man by any standards, I was also born in 1962. Trying to find a nice vintage 1962 anything cost about as much as a used car! I'll keep looking...................(I'm Blessed that my Wife bought into these ideas too). I mention the above because maybe there is a 2019 model guitar you've had your eye on, just buy it for your children! I'm just saying.................
Everyone on here commenting on Guitar vs Amp, and here I am - extremely impressed by the impeccable sync between the two Pauls. It's dope! If there was only one Paul in this video, it would've been one Les Paul. (No need to applaud or stand up, thank you)
Have you tried emailing diadario or Ernie ball “I'm just a poor student that has to choose between buying strings and buying dinner, is there any chance you'd give me a discount id rather have the strings”
Same here, very beefy where it needs to be but also nice treble. Though there are always amps that get close to a high end sound at a lower price range so extensive research beats any price tag :D
Honestly, in my experience, the expensive guitars are smoother and easier to play than cheaper ones. If you have an expensive guitar, you feel like picking it up and playing it, which leads to improvement of skill, and that is what we all strive for.
Golden Piggy it doesn’t matter the value, the point is that someone should use the gear that inspires them to practice, if that’s an expensive guitar that’s fine. It’s like that for multiple people, like he said in the video inexpensive amps have come a long way. Look at the katana, the fender champion xl50, there are so many options for amp and guitar that are expensive and inexpensive.
@@mais5762 that's what I did with my first guitar. I worked my ass off one summer mowing lawns (i was 14) and saved up for a squier and a crate amp. Later on I modified the Squier and put EMG's in it, now 20 years later and having multiple guitars later, I wish I kept that guitar stock for nostalgic reasons. I upgraded the crate amp pretty quickly though, that practice amp sucked.
@@mapamen6010 This goes less for amps. Want a great sound and not spend too much bucks on your amp? Buy a Boss Katana head and a cab to your liking, or a Boss Katana combo and swap out the speaker to the one you prefer. Throw a GA-FC in the mix and off you go. Tube amps are cool, but nine out of ten players can't blindly distinguish them from the Katana and if you truly want to use a tube amp properly, especially if you like your clean headroom, you'll also need to buy an attenuator if you want to be able to play at home at acceptable levels. A quality reactive attenuator also sets you back between 500 and 1500 bucks. Want a truly great guitar? Build it yourself: buy your perfect neck and body from Warmoth, buy the exact pickups and electronics you like (or a prewired pickguard), buy the exact tuners you want, buy the exact bridge you want and off you go. Way cheaper than Fender/Gibson/PRS custom shop, way better.
Also not all cheap guitars are crap. Especially if you buy used. Can get some super nice deals, but even buying new and cheap nowadays gets you a decent guitar.
Yeah, indeed: spend some money for a very well built guitar like a Haar Strat, save 1.200 bucks compared to the Fender Custom Shop strat and get a Kemper amp. Same budget, best of both worlds.
Really? Huh, i thought the exact opposite. Luckily i dont have to choose, but if i had to, man i would absolutely get An expensive guitar rather than An expensive amp.
I agree. If you can only get one expensive thing, go for the amp as long as the guitar is still something that makes you want to play. Because let's face it, years from now, you'll have many more guitars, but you may still have the same amp.
For my first rig I choose cheap amp and cheap guitar. And it sounded cheap. After some time practicing, my guitar tutor let me plug me cheap guitar (Epiphone SG special) into his rig (Marshall JTM45 with Hughes and Kettner Tubeman preamp) and I was blown away, how great it sounded and how much more I feel inspired to play. We also tried his 74 Strat into my cheap amp. While it sounded considerably better, for me it was nowhere near that inspiring, as playing thru that Marshall with my cheap guitar.
I preferred the sound of the expensive amp. Although it sounded muffled at times, it did have a more pleasing sound to my ear than that expensive guitar-cheap amp setup.
In order of importance: 1. being able to play the guitar well 2. knowing how to dial in sounds with both analog and digital gear (it takes years, just as learning to play guitar) 3. good setup of the guitar 4. good amp 5. good guitar/pickups
You forgot good speakers some amps speakers are just meh and you miss out on a good amp. I always use a head and 2x12 cab and mix the speakers never double up.
Nice video Paul. My advice: Put your money on the amp. Most inexpensive guitars are easy to upgrade/modify. Amps are less modifiable, especially cheaper modeling ones.
I'd argue modelling amps are more modifiable/upgradeable than expensive tube amps. You can plug in and download firmware, new models, new effects and have better chances of finding something that inspires you without having to replace the whole amp... Can't do that with a plain tube amp, no matter how expensive it is.
@@KimonFrousios interesting counterargument, I hadn't thought about that. The assumption on this argument is that the cab and speaker of the modeling amp are of good enough quality to reproduce something that sounds good, which they may very well be. All in all, tone and "better" is subjective. That said, I use a Kemper, which is a modeling box :)
definitely a fan of the more expensive amp and cheap guitar combo! better overall sound, just have to make sure your guitar isn't too terrible and is both playable and reliable. cheers paul!
Love your storytelling style! IMO it’s really all about: 1. Having an instrument that inspires you to play and just “feels” good. 2. An amp/rig that gets the sound in your head out into the world.
The expensive amp with a cheap guitar sounded better, hands-down... but I'd still go with the expensive guitar and the cheap amp. WIth the custom shop, you can guarantee that the neck profile is exactly what you need it to be, which will make learning to play the thing and making your way through the chords, notes and shapes much easier. You can worry about the sound after you can play the notes.
Both of em sound pretty good. I’d say the mustang sounds a bit more brighter and harsher while the TK is more pleasing to the ears. Enjoyed the video Keep it up!!
That's the point. But it's up to you to balance what you need. In my, and I repeat MY experience, y prefer a good sounding amp, and a cheap guitar. I play an Affinity Telecaster, through a valve amp, and damn, that setup sounds so sweet. And since I work as a luthier I'm able to set the guitar to my needs, and get a comfortable instrument.
I disagree. I've owned and played quite a few expensive guitars. Some are nice, some are not so much. These days my fav guitars are a partscaster strat that I build for under £200, a partscaster tele that I built for £160, and my Epiphone LP, which IMO is better than most Gibson LPs I've tried. Not only are my guitars great playing and sounding guitars, but I'm also not afraid to play the crap out of them. With an expensive guitar I was always worried about damaging it and fret wear.
My local music academy has a cheap squier Tele laying around, i played it once when i didn't bring my own guitar and it was absolutely fine and sounded pretty good through a Blues Deluxe, it played really good and i had no complaints. I'd much rather have a decent amp.
There's definitely something to be said about having all those effects and capabilities built into the Fender Mustang. To be able to access all those effects and presets without spending more, seems worth the decrease in authentic sound. Especially when most people listening won't have an ear for that sort of thing. Plus you have all the inputs/outputs to seamlessly hook up to the sound mixer and in-house audio system at a gig. I'm team expensive guitar, when it's up against this particular amp anyway. Expensive guitars tend to be much more sexy too..
Paul is so clever at making concepts for videos and he sets it so good that you enjoy every single second of it. i wish i had the wisdom, the cleverness, and the gear of him.
It really comes down to what you're going for tonally: I thought that the cleans sounded better with the expensive guitar (somehow more snappy and crisp) whereas the gain sound was just so much better with the expensive amp.
In terms of the content, your videos have always been of very high quality. But I get gradually more and more impressed with the creative editing you're pulling off. Amazing job, adds a whole another level.
okay, I have to confess...it's taken a while, I've resisted....but your sense of humor is finally cracking me up on a regular basis. Content always great
Loving the hair at the start! Mate you can make anything sound awesome and prove that tone is in the fingers of the player! That said as much as I love your custom Strat I think the expensive amp did it for me!
I liked the sound of the high end amp the best. It's warmer and has more character. But this is when hearing them one after the other. I wonder if you could tell by just hearing one of the two set-ups just by itself... As a guitarist the feel of a good quality guitar in your hands is just as important and it affects your playing. It is always a balance you have to find I think...
Mid range guitar + mid range amp for best bang for your buck. A good, well set up guitar for around 300-350 + Boss Katana 50 and you can be very happy.
manner bear my fender mex strat I bought used for 350 area, I used to play it through a mustang v2 a lot. I was happy with it. Now I play through a Hot Rod Deluxe IV and am still pretty happy. I found myself less caring about the tone, and more about the content I play
The boss katana considering it’s 180 quid in the uk is unbelievable compared to the likes of the things you get in starter packs like a fender frontman 15g or whatever
I think the expensive amp and cheap guitar sounds better. But would be interested to hear a mid range guitar and amp together. I think that might be the overall winner as you might not be spending any of the budget after the point of diminishing returns.
kasumi toyama have you heard Jonny Greenwood? He plugs Shredmaster into Fender 85 solid state He’s been using that setup for his distorted tone since the they recorded their first EP to these days :) It’s all in ur hands if you ask me, and if you ask me, expensive amp glorious character is more subtle in clean/light distorted sound And Jonny uses expensive AC30 for those sounds
I’m impressed at how close it is! Personally I’d do the upgraded guitar first so you get the benefits of playability and upgrade the amp later. On the other hand, some better pickups, cheap mods in the squire and a good setup would mean you would then be able to afford the better amp... still can’t decide 😂
I went with the better guitar just cause it felt so much better to play and was way more inspiring. Like I don’t feel like I want or need another guitar now cause I already have it, and if your just playing at home the amp matters even less. But neither way is wrong :)
I'm amazed, iv'e always thought that it's wiser to buy a better amp than a expensive guitar if you're on a tight budget. but that cheap amp and expensive guitar combo sounds better IMO.
You can always drop new pickups in your cheap guitar and make your expensive amp sound even better. You can't upgrade your amp when you're going the cheap amp/expensive guitar route. I suppose you could though, but that would defeat the purpose of the entire thing.
Honestly, I think you should’ve recorded using microphones on the amp speakers along with the DI. I’m impressed at how close you were able to get to each setups tones, good argument for “tone is in the hands”. I preferred the tighter sounds of the expensive guitar into the cheap amp.
Hey paul Its my birthday tomorrow and i went for a electric guitar The fender squier affinity telecaster to be precise Im gonna learn alot from you Thank you for being such a humble and nice guy and being able to play the guitar so amazing and willing to learn other people what you love so much Have a nice day/night Groetjes.
Both rigs sounded good enough to motivate you to play more and learn more. Over all this years, I've learned that learning to use and setting properly inexpensive gear and playing more can get you a good tone. Better than losing hours searching for new and more expensive gear.
I can never tell whether an expensive guitar sounds better. But I can tell that an expensive guitar feels better. It feels special😄. Charismatic channel. Thanks👏🏻
The expensive amp sounds better... but for me, an expensive guitar shows it’s value 80% in the playability of the guitar and 20% in the sound... so which guitar makes you want to pick it up and play???
KPB totally agree! - cheap guitar in Paul’s hands sounds great, but in my hands sounds wack. Better guitar, easier to play, sounds better, regardless what it’s playing through!
I bought a moderate amp and moderate guitar. A 60s Road Worn Fender Strat and a 68 Deluxe Reverb silverface. I negotiated the price for both so together, they came to under $2,000. I also have a Reverend Eastsider T which is my favorite guitar between the two.
I was sort of leaning to expensive guitar/cheap amp until the dirty tones kicked in. Holy shit sign me up for expensive amp/cheap guitar, that modelling Fender sounded like a fart.
If I were listening to you in a club, pub, or bar, without a comparison, each setup has a good sound. I wouldn’t walk out on you! But side by side, the round pear shaped tones from the expensive amp blow the cheap amp away. But it all rocked!
The amp really starts to matter with overdriven tone. Up to that point, the expensive guitar had made by far the most difference. Quite startling how it switched over so dramatically.
I think its more do to with the compression characteristic of saturated tubes vs solid state components, volume increase on the modeler may help due to (what i think i hear) the compression of the signal
Agreed. The great guitar made a difference until overdrive was used. Possibly more time on the overdrive modeling on the cheap amp would fix that difference?
I'm an expensive amp/ cheap guitar guy anyway but I think this demonstrated the comparison well. To me it makes sense. So long as the cheap guitar plays well enough the amp and effects are far more important. Besides we tend to not worry about a cheap guitar so much if it gets damaged or taken go get another one. Guitars should be played, not treated like museum pieces. Thanks. Great video.
Hey Paul, great video. I thought i'd vote for expensive guitar/cheap amp but after watching and listening I changed my mind. I'd definitely like to see a video where you run a cheap and expensive guitar through the expensive amp. Thanks, keep it up.
I think it can depend on what you do with it if you just play at home I think more money spent on the guitar is better it should feel better and just be nicer to play, but if you record or play for people you might want to just have a good balance but maybe spend a little more on the amp I own a fender telecaster Cabronita and a tweed fender blues Jr and it sounds fantastic
For me this is like when I started as a photographer, the question of “do I buy an expensive lens, or an expensive body?” Relationally I would say lens=guitar and body=amp.. In the camera gear world, it is typically thought to be better to invest in an expensive lens because they will always project a high quality image to your camera body, your camera body just renders what it is being shown. Likewise I would say invest in an expensive (or at least just a very good quality) guitar that you’ll fall in love with because that guitar will always sound like that guitar no matter what amp it’s put through. (Not the same exact sound, as amps have their own sound also, but the general vibe of that guitar being played by you is still there through a cheaper amp or a more expensive one) In the photography world, if you upgrade the body (image sensor and all that) really your just upgrading the ability to render your image better, perhaps with more bit information that leads to a more flexible post-editing experience. Similarly, an upgrade in a better amplifier down the road will just improve your ability to render the sound in your head through your instrument that you’ve bonded with and might unlock some further flexibility you didn’t notice before with cheaper gear, but to me, the key is to first invest in your actual instrument. (When getting serious about electric guitar, no offense to anyone out there but I really don’t like seeing beginners and kids who will quit a month after they’ve started being bought stupidly expensive guitars...)
If you own a computer (or even an ipad) and decent speakers/headphones, I would always buy a +50$ audio interface and use amp simulation software. There are plenty of free simulated amps that sound much better than you would get on a 300$ modelling amp. There are also free simulated pedals and cab IRs so you can really get the tone your looking for. There is practically 0 latency, at least nothing you can perceive. The saved 250$ can be then spent on a better guitar that inspires you to play more, or you could spend some on a midi controller with effect pedal for those nice hendrix wah tones. Hell, people use amp simulators on gigs as well with no issues.
I'd go with expensive guitar and an amp modeler (something like the HX Stomp for around 500.-) Short answer: A beautifully crafted guitar can inspire you even unplugged & amp modelers have become "good enough". Long answer: I have the privilege of owning some incredible guitars (Callaham Blackguard Tele, Gretsch Falcon, old ES335,...) and two beautiful amplifiers (a 1966 Fender Pro Reverb and an amazing AC30 copy). Each guitar inspires me in a different way and some just truly play themselves. I can spend hours on my Tele or ES and never get tired of it. Whenever I can, I play live with both amplifiers as the sound is just incredibly full. I do get compliments from a lot of other guitarist on my sound. Becoming more and more tired of carrying 60kg of amps around, I recently tried the HX Stomp as amp modeler and used it on the next show I played. I've bought some Celestion Impulse Responses, created a stereo amp setup with a AC30 and a blackface Fender and I must say: I'm deeply impressed with the sound I got from it. The sound is extremely close to the real thing. Of course not exactly the same, but definitively good enough to please my critical ears through my in-ear monitoring. Having heard the live recording, I would not be able to tell if it's real amps or not. This was quite shocking to me. When playing live, this is an incredible solution, especially regarding the price-to-value ratio (and of course the ease of use!!!). Therefore, I'd definitively go with expensive guitar and cheap amp (modeler). For practicing, there is of course a lack of feel without actually moving air. Nothing beats the experience of a good amplifier turned up. However, how often are you allowed to play loud (at home or even on stage...). The Ox Box helps, but it's expensive too. Two years ago, my opinion was exactly the opposite (amp > guitar). This was before I was able to afford these amazing guitars and before realizing how far amp modeling has become. Additional note: buy second-hand gear, whenever you can. You'll get much better equipment for your money. Cheers
Man any guitar can sound good through a decent amp. The greatest guitar will sound shite through a shite amp. The question is can you ENJOY playing a shite guitar, will it be comfortable etc.
Chris Ian : beg to differ - at my guitar lessons I play a high end Strat through a VOX practice amp with a 6” speaker - We joke that my guitar takes control of the shitty amp and forces it to sound ok!
@@MandyFlame Hm that's interesting. I've noticed differences in sound while trying different guitars through a "budget" amp, but nothing that could be worked with. Well some cleans are okay, to be honest. But overdriven tones... yuck! And guitars (or pickups) I thought sucked sounded very very well through a decent amp. Yet again I'm just a noob who plays guitar mostly at home, so I don't know if my opinion means anything. But that's what I hear at least.
It is more complicatet to upgrade the Amp, BUT it is the way i would go too. I mean, on guitar, if i have a squire strat, i would look at least, if there are some decent pickups so you have at least kind a clear sound When i would upgrade the guitar, i would make it with parts, because you have spend a lot of money, to get a real diffrent of quality in the wood and at least you should NEVER start with the cheapest guitar get a decent squire or epiphone and you would have joy for a long while.
After I played for about 10 yrs. I found the guitar for me ('91 LP studio) and a lot of the time I practice in my living room with my wife and kid in the room (No amp)... I've been playing for 35 yrs. now and have gone through many amps and tones, But always with my Gibson by my side (My wife jokes about me saving it before her in an emergency, Lol) I think when you find that special instrument that falls in your lap and plays like butter BUY IT!! Treat it right and it will be with you forever, Amps come and go and are very easy to Modify. I might change the hardware and electronics on my guitar but I would never reshape the neck profile or radius... She fits like a glove!
I used to always think that expensive amp and cheap guitar was way better but recently I’ve been playing on a fender American deluxe strat with a lot f bells and whistles on it and it’s a beautiful guitar I’ve been playing it through a Roland micro cube and get a fantastic tone out of it don felder told me when I met him that he actually used the cube for a few solos on his recent albums and how he loves it and I couldn’t agree more
A few additions/some info:
I started this comparison with recreating the sound of the Tone King on the Fender Mustang. The Tone King's Rhythm channel (which I used for this demo) is voiced like a Deluxe Reverb, so I picked that amp model on the Mustang and went from there. I also tried to program the spring reverb as close as possible to the Tone King's reverb.
I did not change any of the amp's settings during the demo and just added the effects on top of the amps as they were from the get go.
You're the man! You create great content! It's a shame what is happening with the copyright shit, keep it up!
Hey
"Doesn't matter, tone is in the fingers"
First I thought that they sound different but I couldn't say what was better. But in the last example the expensive amp was much better. I think more money for the guitar rather improves playability than sound.
Now do the same but with $$$ guitar and $$$ amp vs $ guitar and $ amp. The same from this video.
I think Paul proves that practicing my guitar is the best investment in sound.
150% True
Crawl before ya walk and keep going till your sprinting
EDIT : I AM STILL ONLY WALKING...HAHA
@@greymodoy2126 I started playing back in 1974, I am still only shuffling/walking along. Granted work and family have always taken the priority of my time these days. I think I was a better player back in High School when I actually had the time to sometimes practice guitar 8+ hours a day.
I watched a video about Jack Pearson (a great Musician & Session Artist), he went on tour with the Allmen Brothers with an Indonesian Squier Bullet Stratocaster! So yeah, while better equipment is always a plus it ultimately boils down to the Player and their hands, talent and dedication.
As a Guitarist I think the higher end equipment I own certainly is not necessary, it's just part of the hobby/enjoyment.
I love watching Mr. Davids videos. He is a fantastically talented player/teacher and it goes without saying the the production level of his videos are in the top 1%. Not often can learning be such a great and enjoyable experience as provided by Paul.
Also, love that Tone King amp.
@@hkguitar1984 32 and my second child is only 2 weeks old I hear ya brother.
@@greymodoy2126 Congrats Sir, remember to try and get enough sleep (easier said than done).
The Wife and I decided that with each Grandchild born we would purchase a new guitar that year for each child. I will keep and properly wear-in each instrument. When the Grandchildren are old enough and if they have an interest in guitar I will then Will it to them. This came about because I have been looking for a nice guitar that was built the year I was born. I'm not a rich man by any standards, I was also born in 1962. Trying to find a nice vintage 1962 anything cost about as much as a used car! I'll keep looking...................(I'm Blessed that my Wife bought into these ideas too).
I mention the above because maybe there is a 2019 model guitar you've had your eye on, just buy it for your children!
I'm just saying.................
I'm going with cheap amp and cheap guitar
Same thing here
Broke shredder club
@@christiansteyn912 broke indeed
what amp? audio interface!
Haha!
I was saving money to get myself a mustang gt 100 for a year
And Paul is here to say this is a cheap amp
I feel attacked
Don't buy it. The amp is not at all good,because it sounds super boxy at overdrive or at loud volumes. Get the fender reverb amps or boss katana
Same with my broke ass I have a marshal code 50 I feel attacked
Hamed Paydarfar lol
You guys ever heard of blackstar ?
Chad Sexington lol, you think someone who saved up for a year to get a 300-400$ amp can afford a $1000 amp? You’re funny.
Everyone on here commenting on Guitar vs Amp, and here I am - extremely impressed by the impeccable sync between the two Pauls. It's dope!
If there was only one Paul in this video, it would've been one Les Paul. (No need to applaud or stand up, thank you)
ZerefeL - Ha!
(rim shot...)
I tip my hat
But there is already 1 Les Paul hanging on the wall. So that would be 2 Les Pauls and no one to do the video.
Okay. That deserves props.
Enjoy your props, good sir.
I don't have money for strings...
rauzha: sorry, but was funny 😂😂😂
Next video: "Can a very cheap guitar sound like a Stratocaster?" 😂😂
Have you tried emailing diadario or Ernie ball “I'm just a poor student that has to choose between buying strings and buying dinner, is there any chance you'd give me a discount id rather have the strings”
Lol funny
if you send me your address via pm I will be happy to buy some for you :)
This just proves that anything sounds great - in the hands of a great player. Nice video!
Amp has more impact on tone, guitar provides playability. I chose expensive guitar, because i don't gig and prefer better feel in my hands.
🦀 со своим мнением, неожиданно 😊
Ого! Крабє! Такі шалом!
Same... If I could afford an expensive guitar...
Wow, Thorneyed! Круто тебя видеть под роликами о гитарках)
Does an expensive guitar actually play better? Not asking if it will make me better, but for ergonomics?
Let's just take a moment and appreciate this dude's editing skills
Great comparison
I think the expensive amp and cheap guitar sounded better
Same here, very beefy where it needs to be but also nice treble. Though there are always amps that get close to a high end sound at a lower price range so extensive research beats any price tag :D
Honestly, in my experience, the expensive guitars are smoother and easier to play than cheaper ones. If you have an expensive guitar, you feel like picking it up and playing it, which leads to improvement of skill, and that is what we all strive for.
@@akasegaonkar thats just happens with you it doesnt apply to all people some people just like playing guitar even with a shitty one.....
@@goldenpiggynl1 but you cant deny a beautifully feeling and looking guitar really inspires the player
Golden Piggy it doesn’t matter the value, the point is that someone should use the gear that inspires them to practice, if that’s an expensive guitar that’s fine. It’s like that for multiple people, like he said in the video inexpensive amps have come a long way. Look at the katana, the fender champion xl50, there are so many options for amp and guitar that are expensive and inexpensive.
Solution: Expensive amp and new set of pickups in the Squier.
Expensive amp and modify the shit out of your squier to be even better than a Fender, little by little!
@@mais5762 Exactly right, both of you. Besides, modding a guitar is more fun than buying "off the rack", anyway.
Sounds awesome to me too! I’d pick an expensive amp and upgrading a “simple” guitar
@@CeloCipolla I think the polite term is" Luthiecally Challenged"
@@mais5762 that's what I did with my first guitar. I worked my ass off one summer mowing lawns (i was 14) and saved up for a squier and a crate amp. Later on I modified the Squier and put EMG's in it, now 20 years later and having multiple guitars later, I wish I kept that guitar stock for nostalgic reasons. I upgraded the crate amp pretty quickly though, that practice amp sucked.
The editing in his videos does not get enough credit.
- What's better than Paul Davids?
- Two Pauls Davids🙂
Edu Quiroga ahahaha 😁
I like Paul but the other Paul is clearly just some guy with a fake nose and glasses - oh and don't get me started on the beard.
so it's paul davidss?
Paul doesn't only like music and guitars and related stuff.. But also likes making dope videos.. The edits, storytelling, production quality. Man.. 👍👍
Expensive Amp wins hands down for me...
And I'm sure youtube audio limits make them sounds more close than they are...
Here’s how to sound best:
Cheap guitar
Cheap amp
Rest of budget to lessons
Lessons aren’t needed just practice read learn some scales teach ya self some theory ya golden
@@sandwichfromtheskip1813 easier said then done, lessons will help u progress way faster
@@rikumarcelin7004 but completely not necessary to become good
Clean : expensive guitar & cheap amp
Dirty : cheap Guitar & expensive amp !
Yom31 agreed
Problem is: not every expensive guitar is a good guitar.
Same as amp
@@mapamen6010 This goes less for amps. Want a great sound and not spend too much bucks on your amp? Buy a Boss Katana head and a cab to your liking, or a Boss Katana combo and swap out the speaker to the one you prefer. Throw a GA-FC in the mix and off you go.
Tube amps are cool, but nine out of ten players can't blindly distinguish them from the Katana and if you truly want to use a tube amp properly, especially if you like your clean headroom, you'll also need to buy an attenuator if you want to be able to play at home at acceptable levels. A quality reactive attenuator also sets you back between 500 and 1500 bucks.
Want a truly great guitar? Build it yourself: buy your perfect neck and body from Warmoth, buy the exact pickups and electronics you like (or a prewired pickguard), buy the exact tuners you want, buy the exact bridge you want and off you go. Way cheaper than Fender/Gibson/PRS custom shop, way better.
Also not all cheap guitars are crap. Especially if you buy used. Can get some super nice deals, but even buying new and cheap nowadays gets you a decent guitar.
Yeah, indeed: spend some money for a very well built guitar like a Haar Strat, save 1.200 bucks compared to the Fender Custom Shop strat and get a Kemper amp. Same budget, best of both worlds.
Amp investment for sure, more depth and better definition of sound
For the bedroom I’d rather have an expensive guitar.
To gig I’d rather have a expensive amp.
@Die Rekt you can get some great practice amps that are affordable.
U r thinking opposite. Get a better amp for room and better guitar for gig
@@tejasram5412 seems like you never have really played live gigs 🤣
@@aniksaha9169 I take that back. It's been a year and I don't even know why I replied 😂
now i need a comparison with the good guitar with good amp and the bad amp with the bad guitar xD
he already did
He did, but with a roland cube, and i think is much better the mustang talking on that cheap amps
Confirmed my thoughts! If you can only have one, get the expensive amp 🤘🏼
Really? Huh, i thought the exact opposite. Luckily i dont have to choose, but if i had to, man i would absolutely get An expensive guitar rather than An expensive amp.
I agree. If you can only get one expensive thing, go for the amp as long as the guitar is still something that makes you want to play. Because let's face it, years from now, you'll have many more guitars, but you may still have the same amp.
For my first rig I choose cheap amp and cheap guitar. And it sounded cheap. After some time practicing, my guitar tutor let me plug me cheap guitar (Epiphone SG special) into his rig (Marshall JTM45 with Hughes and Kettner Tubeman preamp) and I was blown away, how great it sounded and how much more I feel inspired to play. We also tried his 74 Strat into my cheap amp. While it sounded considerably better, for me it was nowhere near that inspiring, as playing thru that Marshall with my cheap guitar.
Haha u still need a guitar to plug it into the amp!
I preferred the sound of the expensive amp. Although it sounded muffled at times, it did have a more pleasing sound to my ear than that expensive guitar-cheap amp setup.
In order of importance:
1. being able to play the guitar well
2. knowing how to dial in sounds with both analog and digital gear (it takes years, just as learning to play guitar)
3. good setup of the guitar
4. good amp
5. good guitar/pickups
You forgot good speakers some amps speakers are just meh and you miss out on a good amp.
I always use a head and 2x12 cab and mix the speakers never double up.
What about a mid-priced guitar and mid-priced amp? Just to throw another spanner in the works! 😂
Ashley Bennett it will also sound nice just make music people with whatever you have
Nice video Paul. My advice: Put your money on the amp. Most inexpensive guitars are easy to upgrade/modify. Amps are less modifiable, especially cheaper modeling ones.
I'd argue modelling amps are more modifiable/upgradeable than expensive tube amps. You can plug in and download firmware, new models, new effects and have better chances of finding something that inspires you without having to replace the whole amp... Can't do that with a plain tube amp, no matter how expensive it is.
@@KimonFrousios interesting counterargument, I hadn't thought about that. The assumption on this argument is that the cab and speaker of the modeling amp are of good enough quality to reproduce something that sounds good, which they may very well be. All in all, tone and "better" is subjective. That said, I use a Kemper, which is a modeling box :)
No doubt the amp ruled. Really interesting
definitely a fan of the more expensive amp and cheap guitar combo! better overall sound, just have to make sure your guitar isn't too terrible and is both playable and reliable. cheers paul!
Cheap guitar / expensive amp gets my vote. Sounded great. And the edit is next level! Great job!
I think that a balance between them is the best solution
You mean, a mid-price guitar and a mid-price amp? Madness!
*He says while noodling on a MIM Classic Player strat on an Orange Rocker 15 combo.
@@pronumeral1446 =))everything can be good...
ME*having a PRS SE Mark Holcomb and a Marshall Code 25
MihneaGaming 358 great guitar and amp you have.
I’ve got a PRS SE custom 24 and an Orange Crush 20RT
@@steel3454 Laney cub 12R , Gibson sg special faded
Expensive amp and cheap guitar is the winning combo of your video IMHO
Love your storytelling style!
IMO it’s really all about:
1. Having an instrument that inspires you to play and just “feels” good.
2. An amp/rig that gets the sound in your head out into the world.
I like the way you think
Amen! And despite what some think the biggest effect on tone is in the hands
The expensive amp with a cheap guitar sounded better, hands-down... but I'd still go with the expensive guitar and the cheap amp. WIth the custom shop, you can guarantee that the neck profile is exactly what you need it to be, which will make learning to play the thing and making your way through the chords, notes and shapes much easier. You can worry about the sound after you can play the notes.
Both of em sound pretty good. I’d say the mustang sounds a bit more brighter and harsher while the TK is more pleasing to the ears. Enjoyed the video Keep it up!!
Expensive amp sounds better. But I bet the expensive guitar is more enjoyable to play...
gamblore514 exactly my thought
That's the point. But it's up to you to balance what you need. In my, and I repeat MY experience, y prefer a good sounding amp, and a cheap guitar. I play an Affinity Telecaster, through a valve amp, and damn, that setup sounds so sweet. And since I work as a luthier I'm able to set the guitar to my needs, and get a comfortable instrument.
I disagree. I've owned and played quite a few expensive guitars. Some are nice, some are not so much. These days my fav guitars are a partscaster strat that I build for under £200, a partscaster tele that I built for £160, and my Epiphone LP, which IMO is better than most Gibson LPs I've tried. Not only are my guitars great playing and sounding guitars, but I'm also not afraid to play the crap out of them. With an expensive guitar I was always worried about damaging it and fret wear.
My local music academy has a cheap squier Tele laying around, i played it once when i didn't bring my own guitar and it was absolutely fine and sounded pretty good through a Blues Deluxe, it played really good and i had no complaints.
I'd much rather have a decent amp.
I would also go that way. Better to learn with the best equipment in your hand. To exchange the amp later does not change your style!
There's definitely something to be said about having all those effects and capabilities built into the Fender Mustang. To be able to access all those effects and presets without spending more, seems worth the decrease in authentic sound. Especially when most people listening won't have an ear for that sort of thing. Plus you have all the inputs/outputs to seamlessly hook up to the sound mixer and in-house audio system at a gig. I'm team expensive guitar, when it's up against this particular amp anyway. Expensive guitars tend to be much more sexy too..
Paul is so clever at making concepts for videos and he sets it so good that you enjoy every single second of it. i wish i had the wisdom, the cleverness, and the gear of him.
I think the combination of cheap guitar/expensive amp sounded the best.
yeahhh, that red amp is so sweet
I think cheap guitar, expensive amp sounded best.
correct
It does sound better for sure. It feels like he plays more fluidly with the expensive guitar though, if that makes sense at all.
I have to say, surprisingly, I find this to be quit easy to agree. Never would have thought that.
It really comes down to what you're going for tonally:
I thought that the cleans sounded better with the expensive guitar (somehow more snappy and crisp) whereas the gain sound was just so much better with the expensive amp.
With a master like Paul they all sounded fantastic. It's in the hands not the machines.
For me I think that the best combo is the cheap guitar and the expensive amp. As long as the guitar is not to cheap.
Expensive Amp reacher and deeper sound. Comparison crying for guitar switch.
I think there is a threshold from where you get a good combination. Even in the video the cheap guitar is not a 80€ amazon.
Best way to compare gear I've seen. You don't miss a thing or forget the sound, thanks to the editing job.
In terms of the content, your videos have always been of very high quality. But I get gradually more and more impressed with the creative editing you're pulling off. Amazing job, adds a whole another level.
okay, I have to confess...it's taken a while, I've resisted....but your sense of humor is finally cracking me up on a regular basis.
Content always great
One thing crossed off the bucket list.
hate to say it, but your twin brother is the better looking one of the two of you. truth hurts sometimes...
It's the makeup
Loving the hair at the start! Mate you can make anything sound awesome and prove that tone is in the fingers of the player! That said as much as I love your custom Strat I think the expensive amp did it for me!
I liked the sound of the high end amp the best. It's warmer and has more character. But this is when hearing them one after the other. I wonder if you could tell by just hearing one of the two set-ups just by itself...
As a guitarist the feel of a good quality guitar in your hands is just as important and it affects your playing. It is always a balance you have to find I think...
Mid range guitar + mid range amp for best bang for your buck. A good, well set up guitar for around 300-350 + Boss Katana 50 and you can be very happy.
manner bear my fender mex strat I bought used for 350 area, I used to play it through a mustang v2 a lot. I was happy with it. Now I play through a Hot Rod Deluxe IV and am still pretty happy. I found myself less caring about the tone, and more about the content I play
The boss katana considering it’s 180 quid in the uk is unbelievable compared to the likes of the things you get in starter packs like a fender frontman 15g or whatever
The sound is more vibrant with the $$$ amp. Also I wish you did the $$$ guitar with both the $ and $$$ amps.
I can't get over how well made his videos are
I started watching this without bias. It’s clearly amp & this was a very useful vid. Thanks.
Paul I didn’t know you had a brother
This is a question I've always had. Thanks for the video!! Great stuff!!
I'll have to relisten with some headphones, but the better amp just seemed to do more than the more expensive guitar for me. Great video as always!
I think the expensive amp and cheap guitar sounds better. But would be interested to hear a mid range guitar and amp together. I think that might be the overall winner as you might not be spending any of the budget after the point of diminishing returns.
No Brainer. Expensive Amp and Cheap Guitar, Its all in the Tone!
but the expensive amp is more good in distortion
kasumi toyama better*
kasumi toyama have you heard Jonny Greenwood? He plugs Shredmaster into Fender 85 solid state
He’s been using that setup for his distorted tone since the they recorded their first EP to these days :)
It’s all in ur hands if you ask me, and if you ask me, expensive amp glorious character is more subtle in clean/light distorted sound
And Jonny uses expensive AC30 for those sounds
@@gaelmargrace more gooder
@@C_mao goodest
Better gooder*
I live in an apartment building so out of respect I use headphones.
For sound the cheap guitar+expensive amp
For comfort and playbility expensive guitar+cheap amp
How about Expensive Amp and Expensive guitar vs Cheap amp and Cheap guitar, which is what reality is for most of us.
YES PLEASE
I’m impressed at how close it is!
Personally I’d do the upgraded guitar first so you get the benefits of playability and upgrade the amp later. On the other hand, some better pickups, cheap mods in the squire and a good setup would mean you would then be able to afford the better amp... still can’t decide 😂
I went with the better guitar just cause it felt so much better to play and was way more inspiring. Like I don’t feel like I want or need another guitar now cause I already have it, and if your just playing at home the amp matters even less. But neither way is wrong :)
Instructive yet never fails to be entertaining:) 👍🏻
Both sound great, just different. Now show us the expensive combo and cheap combo ;)
He has a comparison like that in another video
Expensive amp cheap guitar for me. It sounded fuller .
I couldn't agree more. A cheap guitar with decent strings in the hands of a master can sound amazing through the right ring.
I'm amazed, iv'e always thought that it's wiser to buy a better amp than a expensive guitar if you're on a tight budget. but that cheap amp and expensive guitar combo sounds better IMO.
Lautturi I respectfully disagree. Other way around unfortunately. I really wanted to get a new guitar but logically I think I should get an amp.
You can always drop new pickups in your cheap guitar and make your expensive amp sound even better. You can't upgrade your amp when you're going the cheap amp/expensive guitar route. I suppose you could though, but that would defeat the purpose of the entire thing.
OK, it's official, I'm a snob... Custom shop Fender and the Tone King are my favourites in this little battle... Fun vid, Paul!!
Honestly, I think you should’ve recorded using microphones on the amp speakers along with the DI. I’m impressed at how close you were able to get to each setups tones, good argument for “tone is in the hands”. I preferred the tighter sounds of the expensive guitar into the cheap amp.
The expensive amp rig actually sounded better, but a custom shop strat is like playing on silk feel-wise
The Tone King sounds amazing.
Practicing > buying new gear thouhh
Hey paul
Its my birthday tomorrow and i went for a electric guitar
The fender squier affinity telecaster to be precise
Im gonna learn alot from you
Thank you for being such a humble and nice guy and being able to play the guitar so amazing and willing to learn other people what you love so much
Have a nice day/night
Groetjes.
Both rigs sounded good enough to motivate you to play more and learn more. Over all this years, I've learned that learning to use and setting properly inexpensive gear and playing more can get you a good tone. Better than losing hours searching for new and more expensive gear.
The Squier through the expensive amp sounded the best imo. Great comparison! Thanks.
You can get away with cheap guitars, but amps... Never
I can never tell whether an expensive guitar sounds better. But I can tell that an expensive guitar feels better. It feels special😄. Charismatic channel. Thanks👏🏻
Honestly both sounded great. The real take-away is that Paul is getting GOOD at making these videos.
The expensive amp sounds better... but for me, an expensive guitar shows it’s value 80% in the playability of the guitar and 20% in the sound... so which guitar makes you want to pick it up and play???
KPB totally agree! - cheap guitar in Paul’s hands sounds great, but in my hands sounds wack. Better guitar, easier to play, sounds better, regardless what it’s playing through!
I said nice guitar comes first. Watched the video....now I say-Nice amp then an expensive guitar.
My main electric is a Fender Tele Nashville deluxe. Rig is Fender bassbreaker 45 watt through a Orange Cabinet size 12. Sounds like a dream.
I bought a moderate amp and moderate guitar. A 60s Road Worn Fender Strat and a 68 Deluxe Reverb silverface. I negotiated the price for both so together, they came to under $2,000. I also have a Reverend Eastsider T which is my favorite guitar between the two.
Clean sound = expensive guitar Effects/overdrive = expensive amp
Tough but definitely the expensive amp. Sounds a lot clearer
I was sort of leaning to expensive guitar/cheap amp until the dirty tones kicked in. Holy shit sign me up for expensive amp/cheap guitar, that modelling Fender sounded like a fart.
That Mustang sounded surprisingly good!
If I were listening to you in a club, pub, or bar, without a comparison, each setup has a good sound. I wouldn’t walk out on you! But side by side, the round pear shaped tones from the expensive amp blow the cheap amp away. But it all rocked!
Of these options, $$$ into the amp sounds best...Kinda surprised actually...
The amp really starts to matter with overdriven tone. Up to that point, the expensive guitar had made by far the most difference. Quite startling how it switched over so dramatically.
That's what I thought. The cheaper amp overdriven, sounded sort of tinny.
I think its more do to with the compression characteristic of saturated tubes vs solid state components, volume increase on the modeler may help due to (what i think i hear) the compression of the signal
Agreed. The great guitar made a difference until overdrive was used. Possibly more time on the overdrive modeling on the cheap amp would fix that difference?
I'm an expensive amp/ cheap guitar guy anyway but I think this demonstrated the comparison well. To me it makes sense. So long as the cheap guitar plays well enough the amp and effects are far more important. Besides we tend to not worry about a cheap guitar so much if it gets damaged or taken go get another one. Guitars should be played, not treated like museum pieces. Thanks. Great video.
Hey Paul, great video. I thought i'd vote for expensive guitar/cheap amp but after watching and listening I changed my mind. I'd definitely like to see a video where you run a cheap and expensive guitar through the expensive amp. Thanks, keep it up.
I think it can depend on what you do with it if you just play at home I think more money spent on the guitar is better it should feel better and just be nicer to play, but if you record or play for people you might want to just have a good balance but maybe spend a little more on the amp
I own a fender telecaster Cabronita and a tweed fender blues Jr and it sounds fantastic
For me this is like when I started as a photographer, the question of “do I buy an expensive lens, or an expensive body?” Relationally I would say lens=guitar and body=amp..
In the camera gear world, it is typically thought to be better to invest in an expensive lens because they will always project a high quality image to your camera body, your camera body just renders what it is being shown.
Likewise I would say invest in an expensive (or at least just a very good quality) guitar that you’ll fall in love with because that guitar will always sound like that guitar no matter what amp it’s put through. (Not the same exact sound, as amps have their own sound also, but the general vibe of that guitar being played by you is still there through a cheaper amp or a more expensive one)
In the photography world, if you upgrade the body (image sensor and all that) really your just upgrading the ability to render your image better, perhaps with more bit information that leads to a more flexible post-editing experience. Similarly, an upgrade in a better amplifier down the road will just improve your ability to render the sound in your head through your instrument that you’ve bonded with and might unlock some further flexibility you didn’t notice before with cheaper gear, but to me, the key is to first invest in your actual instrument. (When getting serious about electric guitar, no offense to anyone out there but I really don’t like seeing beginners and kids who will quit a month after they’ve started being bought stupidly expensive guitars...)
If you own a computer (or even an ipad) and decent speakers/headphones, I would always buy a +50$ audio interface and use amp simulation software. There are plenty of free simulated amps that sound much better than you would get on a 300$ modelling amp. There are also free simulated pedals and cab IRs so you can really get the tone your looking for. There is practically 0 latency, at least nothing you can perceive. The saved 250$ can be then spent on a better guitar that inspires you to play more, or you could spend some on a midi controller with effect pedal for those nice hendrix wah tones. Hell, people use amp simulators on gigs as well with no issues.
I'd go with expensive guitar and an amp modeler (something like the HX Stomp for around 500.-)
Short answer: A beautifully crafted guitar can inspire you even unplugged & amp modelers have become "good enough".
Long answer: I have the privilege of owning some incredible guitars (Callaham Blackguard Tele, Gretsch Falcon, old ES335,...) and two beautiful amplifiers (a 1966 Fender Pro Reverb and an amazing AC30 copy). Each guitar inspires me in a different way and some just truly play themselves. I can spend hours on my Tele or ES and never get tired of it. Whenever I can, I play live with both amplifiers as the sound is just incredibly full. I do get compliments from a lot of other guitarist on my sound. Becoming more and more tired of carrying 60kg of amps around, I recently tried the HX Stomp as amp modeler and used it on the next show I played. I've bought some Celestion Impulse Responses, created a stereo amp setup with a AC30 and a blackface Fender and I must say: I'm deeply impressed with the sound I got from it. The sound is extremely close to the real thing. Of course not exactly the same, but definitively good enough to please my critical ears through my in-ear monitoring. Having heard the live recording, I would not be able to tell if it's real amps or not. This was quite shocking to me. When playing live, this is an incredible solution, especially regarding the price-to-value ratio (and of course the ease of use!!!). Therefore, I'd definitively go with expensive guitar and cheap amp (modeler). For practicing, there is of course a lack of feel without actually moving air. Nothing beats the experience of a good amplifier turned up. However, how often are you allowed to play loud (at home or even on stage...). The Ox Box helps, but it's expensive too.
Two years ago, my opinion was exactly the opposite (amp > guitar). This was before I was able to afford these amazing guitars and before realizing how far amp modeling has become.
Additional note: buy second-hand gear, whenever you can. You'll get much better equipment for your money.
Cheers
To my ears on my headphones the expensive amp was the clear winner! My savings plan just got reallocated!
Budget amp 300 eurosxD I thought 30 is budget. anyway nice video as always!
Great video I really enjoy Pauls work
That Toneking in overdrive sounds heavenly. Stick some Bare Knuckles in that Squier and that clinches it.
Man any guitar can sound good through a decent amp.
The greatest guitar will sound shite through a shite amp.
The question is can you ENJOY playing a shite guitar, will it be comfortable etc.
Chris Ian : beg to differ - at my guitar lessons I play a high end Strat through a VOX practice amp with a 6” speaker - We joke that my guitar takes control of the shitty amp and forces it to sound ok!
@@MandyFlame Hm that's interesting. I've noticed differences in sound while trying different guitars through a "budget" amp, but nothing that could be worked with.
Well some cleans are okay, to be honest. But overdriven tones... yuck!
And guitars (or pickups) I thought sucked sounded very very well through a decent amp.
Yet again I'm just a noob who plays guitar mostly at home, so I don't know if my opinion means anything. But that's what I hear at least.
I'd say spend your money on the amp. It's a lot easier to upgrade a guitar.
It is more complicatet to upgrade the Amp, BUT it is the way i would go too. I mean, on guitar, if i have a squire strat, i would look at least, if there are some decent pickups so you have at least kind a clear sound
When i would upgrade the guitar, i would make it with parts, because you have spend a lot of money, to get a real diffrent of quality in the wood and at least you should NEVER start with the cheapest guitar get a decent squire or epiphone and you would have joy for a long while.
After I played for about 10 yrs. I found the guitar for me ('91 LP studio) and a lot of the time I practice in my living room with my wife and kid in the room (No amp)... I've been playing for 35 yrs. now and have gone through many amps and tones, But always with my Gibson by my side (My wife jokes about me saving it before her in an emergency, Lol) I think when you find that special instrument that falls in your lap and plays like butter BUY IT!! Treat it right and it will be with you forever, Amps come and go and are very easy to Modify. I might change the hardware and electronics on my guitar but I would never reshape the neck profile or radius... She fits like a glove!
I used to always think that expensive amp and cheap guitar was way better but recently I’ve been playing on a fender American deluxe strat with a lot f bells and whistles on it and it’s a beautiful guitar I’ve been playing it through a Roland micro cube and get a fantastic tone out of it don felder told me when I met him that he actually used the cube for a few solos on his recent albums and how he loves it and I couldn’t agree more