2021: A Year in Gear (What You've Bought or Want to Buy in 2021)

[imrae]

I need a good distortion pedal, any one have any recommendations? Stereo would be nice but I don't expect too much on that. I like smooth harmonically rich distortion rather than super dirty mostly.
A tube distortion pedal would be nice probably.

What amp is it going into? I'm increasingly sold on the idea that scooped amps need mids-heavy gain and dark amps need scooped/bright gain.

Anyway for smooth/rich I'm very happy with the Hardwire CM-2, which is basically a deluxe Bad Monkey, which is basically a Tube screamer with a bass control.

[pekbro]

Nice ^^

I am still pretty interested in those headless Strandberg guitars for some reason. My guitar is too heavy and they look kinda cool.

I need a good distortion pedal, any one have any recommendations? Stereo would be nice but I don't expect too much on that. I like smooth harmonically rich distortion rather than super dirty mostly.
A tube distortion pedal would be nice probably.

Ouch those strandbergs aint on the budget side! I struggle to break a $600 ceiling on a guitar


I like my Blackstar HT Dist, not super dirty but not super rich either, I use it more for a warm boost with a bit of dirt...has a bit of adjustment. Mostly I just go through my Elektron Analogue Drive, can always find something I like in there.

Heh, yeah the Strandbergs are expensive. I used to buy affordable guitars until I wound up with
about 15 of them at the same time. I've no room for that these days, costly guitars are nice imo,
and keep my collecting to a minimum.

I'll have a look at the Elektron drive, thanks.

[pekbro]

I need a good distortion pedal, any one have any recommendations? Stereo would be nice but I don't expect too much on that. I like smooth harmonically rich distortion rather than super dirty mostly.
A tube distortion pedal would be nice probably.

What amp is it going into? I'm increasingly sold on the idea that scooped amps need mids-heavy gain and dark amps need scooped/bright gain.

Anyway for smooth/rich I'm very happy with the Hardwire CM-2, which is basically a deluxe Bad Monkey, which is basically a Tube screamer with a bass control.

Heh, no amp for now. That's another thing I will need to look at, though I do actually have an old Line6 spider that I haven't used in about 10 years (mostly I've used software for guitar). tbh, I want it for synths mostly. I do have the Animal Factory Orobas which would work for that, but I was wanting something in a pedal.

I'll check out the CM-2 thanks.

[Uncle E]

Bought a Vox AC10 and a couple of pedals for my collection....wanted to add them to some other pedals looking for a Kevin Parker kinda sound

Got yet another budget axe coming, strat copy this time...Ive got to stop buying guitars, four so far this year

That’s a pretty sweet looking Tele in the picture. Looks like it covers the most important sounds. Stew Mac sells a 5-way switch that gives you neck+bridge split and middle+bridge split (4 hum canceling positions), you might want to check that out.

Once you have a Strat, I’d be surprised if you need more than those two.

[Uncle E]

I am still pretty interested in those headless Strandberg guitars for some reason. My guitar is too heavy and they look kinda cool.

They’re great but get the American or Synapse versions. Sprits and Hohner have bridge issues. Plus, the Synapse doesn’t cost much more and comes with the good EMG electronics.

I need a good distortion pedal, any one have any recommendations? Stereo would be nice but I don't expect too much on that. I like smooth harmonically rich distortion rather than super dirty mostly.
A tube distortion pedal would be nice probably.

The Zendrive 2 sounds like that. None of the other tube pedals do. The TC tube pedal is bad. BK Butler is now selling reissue Tube Drivers on eBay for decent prices (at least compared to vintage), those sound great but aren’t exactly the sound you’re describing.

[pekbro]

I am still pretty interested in those headless Strandberg guitars for some reason. My guitar is too heavy and they look kinda cool.

They’re great but get the American or Synapse versions. Sprits and Hohner have bridge issues. Plus, the Synapse doesn’t cost much more and comes with the good EMG electronics.

I need a good distortion pedal, any one have any recommendations? Stereo would be nice but I don't expect too much on that. I like smooth harmonically rich distortion rather than super dirty mostly.
A tube distortion pedal would be nice probably.

The Zendrive 2 sounds like that. None of the other tube pedals do. The TC tube pedal is bad. BK Butler is now selling reissue Tube Drivers on eBay for decent prices (at least compared to vintage), those sound great but aren’t exactly the sound you’re describing.

Great info, thanks.

You don't carry empress effects? I was looking to see if I could get the euroburo from you, but it seems like a no go.

-Cheers

[WatchTheGuitar]

I have a hydrasynth, but would love a bigger keyboard. Looks like ASM are releasing a MOAR HYDRASYNTH 73 key version with 2 x Hydrasynth 8 voice engines

https://youtu.be/ieU4yEWHyKI

https://www.ashunsoundmachines.com/hydrasynth-deluxe

73 key PolyAT keyboard. Yum!

I guess by going bi-timbral it’s now closer to the Novation Summit.
Also I think the second hand Ensoniq PolyAT keyboard synth market is going to take a dive with this release.

[pekbro]

I have a hydrasynth, but would love a bigger keyboard. Looks like ASM are releasing a MOAR HYDRASYNTH 73 key version with 2 x Hydrasynth 8 voice engines

https://youtu.be/ieU4yEWHyKI

https://www.ashunsoundmachines.com/hydrasynth-deluxe

73 key PolyAT keyboard. Yum!

Neat! But huge... I like small synths, I'm thinking of sticking to modules and just getting a Kurzweil KM88 or something.

[WatchTheGuitar]

I have a hydrasynth, but would love a bigger keyboard. Looks like ASM are releasing a MOAR HYDRASYNTH 73 key version with 2 x Hydrasynth 8 voice engines

https://youtu.be/ieU4yEWHyKI

https://www.ashunsoundmachines.com/hydrasynth-deluxe

73 key PolyAT keyboard. Yum!

Neat! But huge... I like small synths, I'm thinking of sticking to modules and just getting a Kurzweil KM88 or something.

You want small, they also released a diddy little mini keyboard version of the Hydrasynth. Only $599 and as far as I can tell same sound engine as the standard Hydrasynth.
https://youtu.be/a5fexzfxdSA

[pekbro]

I have a hydrasynth, but would love a bigger keyboard. Looks like ASM are releasing a MOAR HYDRASYNTH 73 key version with 2 x Hydrasynth 8 voice engines

https://youtu.be/ieU4yEWHyKI

https://www.ashunsoundmachines.com/hydrasynth-deluxe

73 key PolyAT keyboard. Yum!

Neat! But huge... I like small synths, I'm thinking of sticking to modules and just getting a Kurzweil KM88 or something.

You want small, they also released a diddy little mini keyboard version of the Hydrasynth. Only $599 and as far as I can tell same sound engine as the standard Hydrasynth.
https://youtu.be/a5fexzfxdSA

That's cool too, for me it's mostly about the fully weighted keys on the Kurzweil. I had access
to a Kurzweil stage piano for a time and no other (non piano) keybed has since lived up to that for
me so far. It's hard to explain, but you can almost just ride along on a fully weighted keybed when
things get honking and the notes start flowing like a river

[WatchTheGuitar]

I had a weighted Arturia keyboard, but as I never played much piano it’s not an action I’ve grown to love. Actually prefer a decent semi weighted, not least because I get enough hand and wrist workouts from guitar without keys doubling down.

[foosnark]

You want small, they also released a diddy little mini keyboard version of the Hydrasynth. Only $599 and as far as I can tell same sound engine as the standard Hydrasynth.
https://youtu.be/a5fexzfxdSA

It's a little weird to me that this one is $200 less than the desktop version, but I guess the interface is cut back a little bit more too.

I just bought a God's Box Loose Fruit. Crazy name, but it's a dual digital waveshaper and analog crossfader, makes some interesting noises and can process CV too.

Future purchases: Boredbrain Optx, Joranalogue Compare 2, Klavis Mixwitch -- all as soon as the Optx is available.

This stuff is replacing my ES-3/ES-6 pair, Brain Seed, TipTop Fold Processor, Shades and Ladik P-075.

(The actual folder on Fold Processor isn't my favorite style -- but I really like the sub output. Which is just a comparator, clock dividers/flip flops, and a mixer. So why not replace it with a cooler waveshaper and the king of comparators? And while I was checking out logic modules, Mixwitch caught my eye -- a ridiculously useful multitool.)

[kcearl]

Bought a Vox AC10 and a couple of pedals for my collection....wanted to add them to some other pedals looking for a Kevin Parker kinda sound

Got yet another budget axe coming, strat copy this time...Ive got to stop buying guitars, four so far this year

That’s a pretty sweet looking Tele in the picture. Looks like it covers the most important sounds. Stew Mac sells a 5-way switch that gives you neck+bridge split and middle+bridge split (4 hum canceling positions), you might want to check that out.

Once you have a Strat, I’d be surprised if you need more than those two.

Thanks Eric, it could do with some upgrades but is nice enough to play, has a splittable humbucker too…Fender Modern Player…not expensive but plenty versatile for the price

[pekbro]

The Elektron Model Samples is pretty cool though I fear it's going to make me want to get one of the higher-end Elektron samplers. That's fine though, I can just give this to a buddy who would enjoy it, but never buy it himself, even though he didn't hesitate to spend 2 grand on a hand crafted ukulele. He gives me lots of weed for free as I am not good at growing it, so it's all good.

[kcearl]

The Elektron Model Samples is pretty cool though I fear it's going to make me want to get one of the higher-end Elektron samplers. That's fine though, I can just give this to a buddy who would enjoy it, but never buy it himself, even though he didn't hesitate to spend 2 grand on a hand crafted ukulele. He gives me lots of weed for free as I am not good at growing it, so it's all good.

Gateway drug…not the weed, the Samples