Know Your Gear Podcast #439: Did Fender’s Affordable Guitar Work or Backfire
Host: Phillip McKnight
Date: December 9, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode of the Know Your Gear Podcast with Phillip McKnight dives into a range of guitar-related questions from listeners, frequently centering on amplifier choices for affordable guitars, recent guitar amp product reviews, speaker and pickup swaps, and especially Fender's shift towards more affordable, Indonesian-made guitars. Phillip blends personal anecdotes, industry insights, and practical gear advice while also launching a new “Gear of the Week” segment featuring news and holiday discounts.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Using Reference Amps for Affordable Guitars
Timestamps: 00:17–07:20
- Phil’s Approach: Historically uses a vintage Peavey Backstage amp to demo guitars under $500, providing viewers a familiar reference point.
- Recent Shift: Now often uses the Boss Katana Gen 3 because it’s widely accessible and “everyone knows the sound.”
- Reasoning:
“It’s hard to put a $300 guitar through a $3000 amp and then ask, ‘how did it sound to you?’... It’s really about reference.” — Phillip (00:50)
- Sponsored Dilemma: Guitar Center offered a sponsorship to review the new blue Katana Gen 3, which Phil declined as a standalone review but accepted as a good reference amp for videos.
2. Blackstar ID:Core 50X & Anderton’s Review Drama
Timestamps: 04:28–07:20
- Phil’s Method: Released a Veterans Day video on the Blackstar ID 50X, noticed Anderton's negative review, and added a firmware update test segment to address it.
- Firmware Upgrades: Users can revert easily to the original firmware via factory reset, demonstrating “cliffhanger” tactics to drive engagement to his video.
- Speaker Upgrades: Both Blackstar and Katana stock speakers are weak spots; swapping to a Celestion creamback or vintage 30 can have a huge effect, though Phil cautions against too many swap tests:
“I just don’t want to do a 20-speaker swap. It’s just not worth it to me.” (11:01)
3. Guitar Speaker Preferences
Timestamps: 11:13–16:24
- Phil’s Preferences: Currently uses creambacks in most cabs, though he has extensive experience with V30s, redbacks, and greenbacks.
- Speaker Comparisons:
“The red back is a little brighter… but one of the things I like about creambacks… is not that they sound so good, it’s they work so well with all the situations I put things through.” (14:39)
- Utility Mindset: Phil values speakers that allow him to quickly identify if any tonal issue comes from the amp or the speaker.
4. Copycat Guitars: Why Does Everyone Make a Strat or Tele?
Timestamps: 22:30–30:16
- Three Reasons Explained:
- Market Demand: They're perennial best-sellers.
- Improvement: Builders think they can “fix” or improve on Fender’s design (e.g., G&L, PRS, Suhr).
- Parts Availability: The most “real” reason—Strat and Tele parts are cheaply, abundantly available.
- Behind the Scenes:
“You can get Fender’s bridge for a nickel, you can get Gibson’s bridge for a dime… As it gets easier, they get cheaper, and as they get cheaper, it’s harder to justify not using them.” (28:26)
- Anecdote:
“I wish somebody would knock off my bridge so I could buy my bridge cheaper.”
— Matt from Texas Toast Guitars, via Phillip
5. Visiting the Cortek (Cort) Factory & Fender’s Indonesian Guitars
Timestamps: 30:37–38:43
- Scale & Impact: Cortek makes 1.2 million guitars annually, manufacturing for multiple brands including Fender and Ibanez.
- Fender’s Asian Standard Line:
- Phil couldn't show footage of Fender, Squier, and Ibanez buildings.
- The Fender Standard (Indonesian-made) models are seemingly a success based on massive production for Q4.
- Market Dynamics:
“If everybody hates it on the Internet, it’s a huge success. Not always, but most of the time.” (33:54) “When markets tighten, buyers shift to lower price points—but companies like Fender get the sale anyway.” (36:10)
- The strategy: Retain sales by creating attractive, affordable options when people “buy down.”
6. Monoprice/Stage Right Amps & OEM Drama
Timestamps: 16:29–19:23
- Rumor from Laney: Monoprice Stage Right amps may be “ripped off” Laney designs following outsourced Chinese production.
- Viewer Takeaway: Phil hears Monoprice amps are “just as good” as Laneys from players, but “not from Laney.”
7. Gear of the Week: Holiday Deals & New Releases
Timestamps: 39:35–49:41
- Phil introduces a segment spotlighting gear launches and deep discounts:
- JHS x Third Man Hardware “Troika” Pedal: Cool 3-slider delay, sold out instantly.
- Joyo Jam Buddy 2 Mini Amp: $95 on Thomann, fun portable amp with effects and a phone holder.
- DiMarzio Pickup Deals: 25% off direct and via Sweetwater—with shipping/tax tips for best savings.
- IK Multimedia TONEX Plug: Compact headphone amp for $150. Phil prefers the Spark Go for its added speaker functionality.
- Gretsch Streamliner Jet Club Guitars: $189–$350, cool entry price for a Gretsch.
- Epiphone Hendrix Love Drops Flying V: Heavily discounted to $999 at Empire Music.
- Boss TU-3 Tuner: $79, available at major retailers.
“Used gear is where the money savings really is. But here are the best new deals I found.” (40:26)
- Phil invites listeners to submit deals for future segments.
8. The Value of Out-of-Phase Guitar Sounds
Timestamps: 57:29–62:52
- Why Out-of-Phase? Demonstrates the nasal, honky cut-through quality—especially useful in a band context.
- Frequency Tips:
“The mid frequencies…are a bigger spectrum than you’d think. Mids are everything. When the mids are wrong, I can’t unhear it.” (61:02)
- Pedal/amp/guitar builders’ ears matter more than pure technical knowledge.
9. Pickups: DiMarzio Tone Zone vs Seymour Duncan JB
Timestamps: 50:51–56:35
- No Direct Equivalent: JB and Super Distortion are “competing” models, but not identical. Phil finds the Tone Zone the closest DiMarzio gets to the JB’s feel, with subtle differences.
- Eddie Van Halen Story: The Music Man Axis pickups were selected by Steve Lukather from a set of DiMarzio prototypes.
10. Donating Guitars and Finding Good Homes
Timestamps: 90:43–101:41
- Donation Policy: Focus on 501(c) charities, teachers, and after-school programs; guitars for Guitars for Vets (funds preferred over instruments).
- Challenge: Many charities won’t accept even brand-new guitars unless procured through specific channels or brands.
“Charities like that can arrange to buy guitars…because they have a deal with Yamaha Guitars.” (92:04)
- Teachers are often best equipped to receive donations and put them to use.
11. Listener Q&A Highlights
- Guitar Mod Questions: Pickups for country (Seymour Duncan BG1400 for Telecasters), filing saddle height screws, mini-humbucker swap stories.
- Amp Recommendations: Positive reviews of entry-level modeling amps (Katana, Blackstar, Catalyst, NU-X), noting they’re “all really good right now” and have pushed the market forward.
- Fretsprout Fixes: In humid climates, feel free to dress fret ends right away; improvements via oiling, but properly rounded frets won’t become a problem even after rehydration.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Using Familiar Amps:
“It’s not about making the guitar sound better or worse… It’s about reference. Like, when I say, ‘this neck feels like a Fender Mexican standard’—most of you have tried that.”
(01:30) - On Speaker Upgrades:
“A speaker upgrade to the Katana makes a world of difference. But I would imagine even more with the Blackstar.”
(07:57) - On Fender’s Affordable Line:
“You can almost guarantee if everybody hates it on the Internet, it’s a huge success.”
(33:54) - On Copycat Guitars:
“The reason everyone makes a Strat or Tele is because it’s so easy to get Strat and Tele parts… You can build an entire guitar in your garage with mostly tools from Ace Hardware.”
(24:14/27:13) - On Buying Down in the Market:
“When the market slows, people just slide down—$3,000 guitars become $300 guitars, but they’re still buying something.”
(36:10) - On Pickup Choices:
“The Tone Zone, I like the Tone Zone. But… the Tone Zone and the JB—main difference to me is the JB’s got more mids, just a little more mids.”
(56:35)
Featured Segments with Timestamps
- Reference Amps for Cheap Guitars: 00:17–07:20
- Speaker Swap Deep Dive: 07:20–14:39
- Copycat (Strat/Tele) Guitars: 22:30–30:16
- Affordable Fenders – Success or Fail?: 30:37–38:43
- Gear of the Week (Black Friday & New Releases): 39:35–49:41
- Out-of-Phase Guitar Sounds Explained: 57:29–62:52
- Pickups: Tone Zone vs JB & EVH Story: 50:51–56:35
- Guitar Charities & Donation Advice: 90:43–101:41
- Q&A – Fret Sprout Fix: 102:29–107:50
Additional Listener Questions & Takeaways
- Monoprice (Stage Right) Amps: Reported as “Laney clones”; quality is debated but widely considered a solid value.
- Stumac vs. Other Retailers: Good for research and selection, but shipping can be costly—use for reference and buy where it best suits your budget.
- Gear-Related Giving: Focus on direct-to-teacher or legitimate charity; monetary donations often more effective than giving guitars.
- How Market Shifts Affect Manufacturers: Big brands create affordable options to catch “down-market” buyers during downturns.
Tone & Style
Phillip’s delivery is candid, slightly self-deprecating, and filled with dad jokes and asides. He blends deep technical knowledge with relatable stories and a strong focus on audience utility, referencing videos and community feedback throughout. His “no-nonsense,” practical approach makes complex industry dynamics accessible to guitarists at all levels.
For New Listeners:
You’ll come away with practical upgrade and buying strategies, the truth behind affordable guitars from major brands, and why reference gear matters for honest reviews. Plus, you get a sense of community and inside access to both the industry and the realities of being a working, enthusiast-driven YouTuber.
(For further episode questions, links to referenced videos, or to contribute deals for the “Gear of the Week” segment, visit the Know Your Gear YouTube channel or email: asknowyourgearmail.com)
