Know Your Gear Podcast with Phillip McKnight
Episode: "Fender is ready to fight the cheap Amazon guitar market"
Date: April 14, 2026
Episode Overview
In this engaging edition of the Know Your Gear Podcast, Phillip McKnight answers a wide variety of listener questions focused on all things guitars—ranging from high-end Fender and Gibson custom shop instruments to the booming market of affordable Amazon guitars. The episode tackles topics like guitar resale value, YouTube’s impact on modding cheap guitars, how brands like Fender and Squier are responding to budget-oriented competition, handling negative online comments, practical advice on guitar selling and setup, and a fun interactive "This or That" pedal comparison game. Throughout, Phillip’s authentic and conversational style makes the show both informative and enjoyable, peppered with humor, personal anecdotes, and candid industry observations.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Custom Shop vs. Mainstream Guitars
- (00:01–10:00) Discussion about whether high-end Fender Custom Shop Strats justify their price and what to expect compared to other boutique brands like Suhr and Kiesel Delos. Phillip shares:
- Personal experiences with Fender Custom Shop Strats—hasn't found one that felt truly exceptional in playability, especially when compared with some modern boutique alternatives.
- Noted resale value considerations and personal attachment (or lack thereof) to certain custom shop guitars, mentioning that often his favorite guitars are not always the most expensive or "premium" ones.
- Memorable quote:
"None of them has made me think that I have arrived at a level that just everything below it is just substandard (...) My favorite Les Paul I own is my Gibson Les Paul Classic."
2. Handling Negative Feedback as a Content Creator
- (10:00–18:00)
Phillip addresses new creators on coping with negative (and sometimes passionate) comments online:- Advice given by top YouTubers: "Don't read the comments." Many high-profile creators have someone else manage comment sections.
- Emphasizes looking at analytics for meaningful feedback versus getting bogged down by trolls.
- Memorable moment:
"If I post a video and I don't read the comments, I have a much better week every time."
- Phillip’s breakdown of community composition: about 80% good, 10% just miserable, 10% attempting to be funny but failing.
3. The Guitar Weight Debate and Selling Online
- (18:00–23:00)
- Discussion sparked by a question about selling heavier guitars and whether the focus on weight (e.g., sub-7 lb) has ruined the market.
- More information in listings is always better—weight preferences have always existed.
- Humorous yet practical approach:
"If I had a contribution to you having trouble selling heavier guitars, I'm sorry. I've sold many heavy guitars recently, so they buy them."
4. Fender, Squier, and the Battle for Budget Guitar Dominance
- (23:00–35:00)
- Are Squier Sonic and Gretsch Streamliner models clawing back market share from no-name Amazon brands?
- Phillip explains that Fender is absolutely fighting to stay competitive in the ultra-budget space, noting that many guitarists never "graduate" to more expensive instruments as manufacturers expect.
- YouTube’s role:
"YouTube has provided so much content on how to make inexpensive guitars great… People like buying guitars and kind of modding them up a little bit."
- The notion of "bougie blue-collar" collectors—middle-aged hobbyists with dozens of affordable guitars who collectively spend big—emphasized with a laugh.
5. Pedal Comparison Game: "This or That"
- (52:00–1:10:00)
- Interactive on-air segment where Phillip plays two comparable pedals (Boss Waza Craft Metal Zone vs. EVH 5150) while listeners vote live.
- Phillip reveals his own favorite and then compares results from the audience poll (64% chose the Metal Zone).
- Fun, engaging moment:
"This guitar is $300. If it just can stay in tune, it’s already a win. Novo at $4,000? It better be amazing."
- Plans to make this audience-interactive shootout a recurring segment.
6. Entry-Level Guitar Quality – Then and Now
- (42:00–45:00)
- Nostalgic reflection on how dramatically entry-level guitar quality has improved thanks to manufacturing and online resources.
- Quote:
"It's crazy to me when I take cheap guitars out of the boxes now and they're actually playable."
7. Intonation & Tuning Advice
- (45:00–50:00)
- Detailed tips for using clip-on tuners for intonation, why battery life and physical condition matter.
- Real-world experience: most players can't hear perfect intonation, and even pro musicians sometimes don’t have perfect pitch.
8. Amp & Speaker Suggestions
- (1:10:00–1:18:00)
- Recommendations for best speakers to tame a brittle-sounding Fender Princeton 65 Reissue (prefers Celestion Creamback over Gold for warmth and punch in clean settings).
- Distinction between speaker recommendations based on whether you're running the amp clean or dirty.
9. Cables and Accessories
- (1:40:00–1:52:00)
- Discussion on favorite cable brands (Mogami, PRS, ProCo, Hosa, Lava, George L), with practical advice on durability, especially about proper unplugging technique.
- Humorous aside about how "mom was right" about pulling cables from the plug.
10. Retail & Resale Industry Insights
- (1:52:00–2:02:00)
- Commentary on guitar companies' policies for big-box retail, exclusive models, and the flexibility that emerges in slow markets or economic downturns.
- Limited edition or exclusive guitars’ impact on resale value—unique can be cool, but "boring" colors and specs are easiest to sell.
11. Fender Custom Pro, Nags Neon Guitars, and Collecting
- (2:02:00–2:12:00)
- Thoughts on special edition runs and the real motivations behind unique finishes (“probably had leftover neon paint from the Steve Stevens run…”).
- Collectors vs. practical players—lessons on not overpaying for guitars you can’t bring yourself to play.
12. Troubleshooting: Switch Issues & Necks
- (2:12:00–2:20:00)
- Diagnosing single coil Strat issues: "Definitely the switch. I'd desolder, re-solder, then replace if necessary. Intermittent problems are the worst."
- What to do if your RG neck is back bowed and has only a single-action truss rod: heat pressing and heavier strings might help before a more intensive repair.
13. Amplifier Impact: Helix vs. Katana
- (2:20:00–2:25:00)
- Biggest industry impact?
“I think the Katana. I think the Katana is a bigger thing than we all probably thought.”
- Katana became the industry baseline that all affordable amps are judged by.
- Biggest industry impact?
14. Gear Donations, Sponsorships, and Channel Transparency
- (2:28:00–2:36:00)
- What to do with review guitars—Phillip donates only the best to schools and good causes, sells mid/high gear to fund the channel, and is transparent about sponsorships, striving for less reliance on them.
- Conversation about YouTube monetization, promo products, and the various ways channels can stay afloat without constantly pushing their own products.
15. Setup Preferences & Guitar Maintenance
- (2:45:00–2:52:00)
- Should guitars be intonated on the bench or in playing position?
"Yes, you can intonate on the bench... but in a perfect world, do everything in the playing position."
- Bonus setup tip: always set intonation with your typical picking attack.
- Should guitars be intonated on the bench or in playing position?
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Collector Mentality
"If you buy a $200 guitar, you're gonna buy 10ish. When you buy a thousand dollar guitar, you're gonna have ten $1,000 guitars. Everybody just picks a comfort zone and then they just buy that." (31:30)
-
On Reading Comments as a Creator
"Don't read the comments, read the stats. YouTube is one of the best platforms for giving you honest and good feedback with stats. Numbers don't lie." (16:50)
-
Live Pedal Game Reveal
"The reason I came up with this game idea was I bought this pedal, and my wife goes, ‘Did you buy a Metal Zone?’ And I'm like, yeah. She’s like, it’s gonna sound horrible. I go, it's the WAZA Craft one!" (1:05:00)
-
On Industry Trends and Boom Years
"In the boom years, everyone had rules about how dealers could buy in. By 2009, it was like, ‘Hey, if you just want to buy one...’ That’s when you knew the market was hurting." (1:55:00)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Topic | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------|------------------| | Custom Shop vs. Boutique Guitars | 00:01–10:00 | | Handling Negative Online Comments | 10:00–18:00 | | Guitar Weight & Selling Online | 18:00–23:00 | | Fender/Squier vs. Amazon Guitars | 23:00–35:00 | | Intonation Tips & Clip-on Tuners | 45:00–50:00 | | Speaker Upgrades—Princeton Amps | 1:10:00–1:18:00 | | Interactive Pedal Comparison ("This or That") | 52:00–1:10:00 | | Entry-Level Guitar Quality | 42:00–45:00 | | Cable Brand Preferences & Pulling Techniques | 1:40:00–1:52:00 | | Retail Industry, Sales, & Exclusives | 1:52:00–2:02:00 | | Collector vs. Player Philosophy | 2:02:00–2:12:00 | | Troubleshooting Electronics | 2:12:00–2:20:00 | | Helix vs. Katana—Which Mattered More? | 2:20:00–2:25:00 | | Gear Donations, Sponsorships, Channel Funding | 2:28:00–2:36:00 | | Setup: Bench vs. Playing Position | 2:45:00–2:52:00 |
Original Language & Tone
Phillip’s style is affable, transparent, and sometimes self-deprecating. There are recurring themes of practical wisdom (“numbers don’t lie”), mild industry snark, and empathetic advice—always with a tone of someone who’s “been there,” whether it’s with negative feedback, gear addiction, or collector’s remorse.
Final Thoughts
This episode provides a masterclass in not only the technicalities of guitar gear and the realities of the instrument market (from entry-level Amazon deals to exclusive custom builds) but also in the importance of community, honest feedback, and maintaining balance between industry trends, personal priorities, and pure fun. The interactive elements and Phillip’s candid answers make it a standout episode for gearheads both new and veteran.
For more gear talk, demos, and bonus segments, check out the Know Your Gear second YouTube channel.