Gear of the Year 2024

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Very little gear comes in to five watt world and much less comes to stay. Here are my picks from the pile this year…along with a simple realization I had while making the list.

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Keith

[SonoranRedheadGuitar]

The Poly Verbs reverb pedal is probably the most inspiring pedal I’ve gotten this year for all of its fantastic ambient sounds.

This year I did get the tried and true Boss RV-3, which has also been incredible and very inspiring. Other than that, it’s been a pretty light year for gear acquisition, which ultimately is the best thing. More playing less shopping.

[ComptonSlim]

Princeton Reverb Tonemaster - chef kiss

[dalecoffing]

I purchased an American Deluxe Tele from a collector. I've never connected with a guitar like this one. Put a set of 9's on it and played it in the pit for three different musicals. I had never played a Tele before and now it's tough to put down. Played through a pedals and a Vox AC15C1. It it's amazing. Locking tuners, noiseless pickups, 6 adjustable saddles, belly cut. Very comfortable.

[GigWithVintage]

I bought the 5W Barber BUSS pedal 2 months ago. My standard is always "do I like it at a gig?". The answer is unequivocally YES. It's clean, it pops, it cuts through the band volume and it is especially full with a neck humbucker or P90. Highly recommended.

[stevenpalmieri]

I built a hand wired fender Princeton reverb from MoJo Tone with a Celestion speaker, landed a used PRS S2 Standard (I consider it my Les Paul), and the Barber/5 watt Buss is musical. I love it.

[jonathanstrand]

Oh well, I just got my MusicMan 75 retubed and cleaned up, might as well mention it, an Amp I bought in 1984, my first real amp! Built in like ‘77 I believe essentially a Bassman with midrange controls, but SS preamp, EL 34 output tubes

[AmiliaCaraMia]

There is something really funny about inspiration or mojo. I used a Strandberg for about a year and didn't quite gel with it, but it all makes sense on paper. The main guitar I record with is a Gibson 339. Upper fret access is terrible, no contours, and I had the neck shaven down a bit since it was gigantic. But I always write something rad when I pick it up and its by far the most flexible guitar I've owned. So it stays haha.

[davidchase-lopes]

Thanks for the shout out Keith! In Dublin working today and see you in Paris! M'y discoveries this year: Rickenbacker 620, my tech 21 trademark 60 AMP and my métronome

[aminahmed]

Awesome to be honest have a great day Keith and also happy holiday season from Canada ❤😊🇺🇸🇨🇦❤😊🌲🎄🎸

[lionscircle]

In 2024 I picked up both of 5WW/Barber pedals, a 12" leslie rotating speaker unit, and took an amp building seminar and electronics theory seminar(3 days each) with Bruce Egnater in Detroit.

[bretthuhn]

Favorite pedals, Prince of Tone, LPD Pedals - FIFTY5, Dry Bell Vibe Machine, LPD Embers (Klone), Paul C. Audio - Timmy

[Mediocre_Bass_Player]

Apropos to the "Buy Once, Cry Once" motif, my pedal of the year is the HX Stomp. I resisted buying one due to the price so instead I had traditional efx pedals and tried the Tonex then the Two Notes Opus. Neither really floated my boat so after trying and HX I finally sold my traditional pedals, the Opus and haven't looked back. I now have a much smaller board that does everything I need it to do. The HX Stomp is a great pedal and while I won't say it is as good as an actual amp it's damn close.

[jmeakin]

My best gear acquisions this year:
Pedal - EHX Glove (gets me the closest to the proverbial 'tone inside my head' when stacked with a Duke of Tone)
Amp - Blackstar HT-5R MkII (2 channels, both clean & OD sounding great, with an EQ, XLR out via PA, headphone, & USB connections, and an effects loop for under $600)
Guitar - Fender 50s JV Modified Telecaster (immaculate fit & finish with a 'Soft V' neck that's the most comfortable & playable I've ever experienced)

[zososhep]

Great Episode! Here is my 2024 list. Amp-Bad Cat Hot Cat 45 watt Head with the 2x12 matching cab. Very versatile amp and takes pedals extremely well! Guitar-PRS DC-3 which unfortunately ended up having pick up issue so my Luthier cut a new pick guard and I decided on Lollar Dirty Blondes which are very very nice single coil pickups. Pedal- J Rocket Audio Animal pedal(the original with the snarl switch!). But my best 2024 new to me additions are the PRS Signature Guitar Cables built by Van Damme in London England. They are thin and sit flat on the floor/stage. They dont tangle and They do not add or take away anything, the tone is your guitar through your amp! And they are on sale everywhere! But thats it! NO MORE Gear!(😂😂😅).

[billbiddy]

I bought 3 things this year. Pedal is an American loopers’ programmable looper/switcher. Amp is a fender blues deluxe reissue 4x10 with the blue speakers and guitar was a Gibson ES335 natural dot 59 historic series unpotted custombuckers paper and oil caps etc

These are the things I’ve loved this year.

[jamesrichardson]

I was lucky enough to grab one of the new Fender Player II Strats a month ago. As a lefty living in Ireland, this is a trickier prospect than you'd think. All of the appointments were exactly what I was looking for and until Fender came out with the Player II, I was looking at having to create my own (which would have been pricey). Thrilled with it and after an initial setup, it's quickly taken over the #1 spot in the arsenal.

[evalonious]

I've heard to many overdrives & rolled my eyes but when I heard the clip, that "Plus" Pedal really is unique. I WANT ONE!

[rushrulz]

Pedal: Peterson Strobostomp. Amp: Mesa Fillmore 25 Head and Mesa 1x12 wide cab. Guitar: Eastman Juliette P90VR. 2024 has been a very good year! The mesa and Eastman are both just so good!

[genebrenner]

I had two Les Paul Deluxes in the 1970s. One was stolen, and I don't remember what happened to the second. A little brighter than a full-sized humbucker. Nice guitar that they've reissued several times. They used Epiphone pickups that fit the route that original was for P-90s.

[kellyswoodyard]

My 3 scores for the year were all guitars, I haven't changed my amp in 20 years, no real need, my AC15 with a Creamback in it, does everything I want. So the guitars. I traded a '58 reissue double cut Junior for a 2011 Les Paul Traditional. It's a great guitar. Also in the deal was an Epiphone Dot VS, that I'm pretty sure has never been played. It needs the dirty frets cleaned up, and that will happen on the weekend, along with new strings. The third one, I made/assembled it. It's a Tele body, a Strat neck, and the single coil P90 style pickups/controls came from a Chibson. It's a beast. It's light, it palys really well, and sounds great. It probably cost me no more than $500 Australian. Everyone have a great Xmas from Sputnik, Kay, and me, here in our bit of Australia.🇦🇺🐾❤️